daughter of Tyndaris is brought into comeliness of Adonis and Narcissus, co

her; for all this she is scorned, altho 40 as beauty itself, though her godlike g to be a goddess, though for her the th fail in the hand of Jove, and every s would pause and lie inactive, though for would become a slave, and Hippolytu 45 love, would sell his very chastity. W kisses lie untouched on maiden lips, a to gain a profit from them? These d me would sweeten my lips with flavor would offer a honeycomb to the mo 50 would go out in kisses, all given ove and play on lips with itself. So that in this way die, my course finished, I, would in these kisses enjoy a happy most. Not only does the adulterous 55 the daughter of Tyndaris, but Paris wi unspeakable and monstrous acts. Not amus seek the kisses of Thisbe thr but no small opening of Venus ple only does the son of Peleus counter 1 Reading in, with Migne. 2 Reading form

of a maiden, that so to maidens he may prove him- 60 self dear, but he wickedly gives away the gift of Nature for a gift, in selling for the love of money his sex. Such deserve anathema in the temple of Genius, for they deny the tithes of Genius and their own duties.

65

PROSE I.

Cum hæc elegiaca lamentabili ejulatione crebrius

recenserem.

Nature.

5

ΙΟ

While I with sorrowful lament was repeating these elegies over and over again, a woman glided down from the inner palace of the impassable heavens, and appeared, hastening her approach to me. Her hair, which shone not with borrowed light but with its s own, and which displayed the likeness of rays, not by semblance, but by native clearness surpassing nature, showed on a starry body the head of a virgin. Twin tresses, flowing loosely, neither forsook the parts above nor yet disdained to smile upon the ground with a kiss. The line of a slender necklace, crossing itself obliquely, divided the strife of her hair; nor was this ever2 a blemish in her appearance, but rather commanded its beauty. And a golden comb smoothed into the dance of due orderliness the gold of her hair, 15 and wondered to have found a countenance agreeing, for the gold of fancy imposed upon the vision the false conclusion of harmonious color. But in truth her forehead, wide and full and even, was of the milkwhite lily in color, and seemed to vie with the lily. Her eyebrows, starry in golden brightness, had neither

3

1 Reading quem, with B.

2 Reading umquam, with Migne.

3 Reading vultui erat detrimento, sed præerat decori, with Migne.

20

40

with the light of roses, with soft flan face; and this in turn chastened the p 35 with cool whiteness-like rose-color Her smooth chin, fairer than crystalli a silvery brightness. Her neck, while n was molded gracefully, and did not to be close to the shoulders. The breasts promised the ripeness of glorio arms, beautifully formed for the deli holder, seemed to ask for embraces. T curve of her waist, which had the ma eration, brought her whole presence 45 of perfection. And faith spoke other more secret habitation held aside, to For in her body lay unapparent a more of whose joys the countenance offer yet, as this very form made known, th 50 had never opened the lock of its cha though the joy of her loveliness was she tried to blot out the smile of h precious tears. For a stealthy dew, s welling of her eyes, proclaimed the 55 grief, and her very face, cast to ear modesty, told of some injury done to

self. The sparkling crown of a regal diadem, shining with dances of gems, brightened high on her head. No base alloy of gold, derogate from high worth, and deceptive to the eye with false light, supplied its sub- 60 stance, but the pure nobility of gold itself. With marvelous revolution and ceaseless turning, this diadem travelled from east to west, and then by backward motion was continually restored to its rising. And its incessant performing of this, and its constant 65 journeying to its starting-place, seemed almost a useless motion. Some of these gems at one time offered to the sight miracles of fresh day in the new sun of their light; but at another time by eclipse of their brilliancy seemed banished from the palace of the 70 same diadem. Others, which were fixed, maintained the vigil of their sparkling, and were constant watchers. Among these a circle, shining in the likeness of the zodiacal curve, and glittering with chains of precious stones, cut across the thickly starred space. And on 75 this a group of twelve gems seemed, from the advance of its numbers and from its especial splendor, to demand supremacy over the others.

Furthermore, in the front of the diadem three jewels, by the bold pride of their beams, supplanted and out- 80 shone the other nine. The first stone condemned darkness to exile by its light, and cold by its fire. On this, as the skilful deceptions of a picture manifested, there blazed the form of a lion. The second, which was yet not inferior to the first in light, flashed 85 in a more prominent position in this same part of the diadem, and seemed to look down on the other stones almost with indignation. On this, in a perfect picture of the reality, a crab with varying and conflicting motion went backward as it went forward, retreated 90 as it progressed, and seemed to advance behind its

8

The Complaint of Nature

[PROSE I own self. The third stone redeemed the scant brightness of a stone set over against it by the abundant wealth of its own clear light. On this, as a truthful 95 picture asserted, the mythical children of Leda advanced and welcomed each other with mutual embraces. In like manner, three stones, whose power was of second degree, had set their thrones in an opposite part. Of these the first, with little drops of 100 moisture, gave the likeness of tears, and saddened its look with counterfeit weeping. On this, as the fancy of skilful engraving had drawn and set forth, the pitcher of the Idæan youth gurgled with flowing stream. The second stone kept all resting-places for 105 warmth out of its dominion, and with icy numbness claimed winter for its guest. On this a picture gave, by an illusive likeness of goat's wool, the hairy pelt of a goat. The third stone, which had the appearance of crystalline light, prophesied with banner of cold 110 the coming of winter. On this the old Hæmonian. with diligent bending of the bow threatened wounds, yet never made good his threats. Playing upon another beautiful side, three mild and fair gems delighted the eyes. The first of these, aflame with the glow 115 of rosy color, gave to view a rose; and in it a bull

showed the well-known marks of his head, and was seen thirsting for battle. Another, of which the lustre was exceptional, blessed the companies of its fellows with grace and kindliness. On this a ram gloried in 120 the nobility of its head, and demanded the leadership of the flock. The third, which had a greenish hue, cherished within it an emerald-like balm to freshen the sight. On this, within a fancied river, fish swam according to their kind, and sported in great numbers 125 along the shore. On the opposite side, the shining

beauty of a group of three stars sparkled with glad