Tales From Ovid 1999

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Hughes, Ted, 1930-1998: [from Tales from Ovid (1997)] , Faberand Faber

Hughes, Ted, 1930-1998: [from Tales from Ovid (1997)] , Faberand Faber

Bibliographic details

Bibliographic details for the Electronic FileHughes, Ted, 1930-1998: Tales from Ovid (1997)Cambridge 1999Chadwyck-Healey (a Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company)The Faber Poetry Library / Twentieth-Century English PoetryCopyright © 2000 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All Rights Reserved. Do notexport or print from this database without checking the Copyright Conditions to see what is permitted.

Bibliographic details for the Source TextHughes, Ted, 1930-1998Ted Hughes (Faber and Faber form) (1930-1998) Tales from OvidLondonFaber and Faber 1997xi, 254 p.Preliminaries, introductory and editorial matter omitted.© Copyright Ted Hughes, 1997, reproduced under licence from Faber and Faber LtdISBN: 0571191037

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Hughes, Ted, 1930-1998 : Tales from Ovid [from Tales from Ovid (1997) , Faber and Faber ]

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Creation; Four Ages; Flood; Lycaon

1 Now I am ready to tell how bodies are changed2 Into different bodies.

3 I summon the supernatural beings4 Who first contrived5 The transmogrifications6 In the stuff of life.7 You did it for your own amusement.8 Descend again, be pleased to reanimate9 This revival of those marvels.10 Reveal, now, exactly11 How they were performed12 From the beginning13 Up to this moment.

14 Before sea or land, before even sky15 Which contains all,16 Nature wore only one mask---17 Since called Chaos.18 A huge agglomeration of upset.19 A bolus of everything---but20 As if aborted.21 And the total arsenal of entropy22 Already at war within it.


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23 No sun showed one thing to another,24 No moon25 Played her phases in heaven,26 No earth

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27 Spun in empty air on her own magnet,28 No ocean29 Basked or roamed on the long beaches.

30 Land, sea, air, were all there31 But not to be trodden, or swum in.32 Air was simply darkness.33 Everything fluid or vapour, form formless.34 Each thing hostile35 To every other thing: at every point36 Hot fought cold, moist dry, soft hard, and the weightless37 Resisted weight.

38 God, or some such artist as resourceful,39 Began to sort it out.40 Land here, sky there,41 And sea there.42 Up there, the heavenly stratosphere.43 Down here, the cloudy, the windy.44 He gave to each its place,45 Independent, gazing about freshly.46 Also resonating---47 Each one a harmonic of the others,48 Just like the strings49 That would resound, one day, in the dome of the tortoise.

50 The fiery aspiration that makes heaven51 Took it to the top.52 The air, happy to be idle,53 Lay between that and the earth54 Which rested at the bottom

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55 Engorged with heavy metals,56 Embraced by delicate waters.


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57 When the ingenious one58 Had gained control of the mass59 And decided the cosmic divisions60 He rolled earth into a ball.61 Then he commanded the water to spread out flat,62 To lift itself into waves63 According to the whim of the wind,64 And to hurl itself at the land's edges.65 He conjured springs to rise and be manifest,66 Deep and gloomy ponds,67 Flashing delicious lakes.68 He educated69 Headstrong electrifying rivers70 To observe their banks---and to pour71 Part of their delight into earth's dark72 And to donate the remainder to ocean73 Swelling the uproar on shores.

74 Then he instructed the plains75 How to roll sweetly to the horizon.76 He directed the valleys77 To go deep.78 And the mountains to rear up79 Humping their backs.

80 Everywhere he taught81 The tree its leaf.

82 Having made a pattern in heaven---83 Two zones to the left, two to the right

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84 And a fifth zone, fierier, between---85 So did the Wisdom86 Divide the earth's orb with the same:87 A middle zone uninhabitable88 Under the fire,89 The outermost two zones beneath deep snow,90 And between them, two temperate zones91 Alternating cold and heat.

92 Air hung over the earth


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93 By just so much heavier than fire94 As water is lighter than earth.95 There the Creator deployed cloud,96 Thunder to awe the hearts of men,97 And winds98 To polish the bolt and the lightning.

99 Yet he forbade the winds100 To use the air as they pleased.101 Even now, as they are, within their wards,102 These madhouse brothers, fighting each other,103 All but shake the globe to pieces.

104 The East is given to Eurus---105 Arabia, Persia, all that the morning star106 Sees from the Himalayas.107 Zephyr lives in the sunset.108 Far to the North, beyond Scythia,109 Beneath the Great Bear, Boreas110 Bristles and turns.111 Opposite, in the South,112 Auster's home113 Is hidden in dripping fog.

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114 Over them all115 Weightless, liquid, ether floats, pure,116 Purged of every earthly taint.

117 Hardly had he, the wise one, ordered all this118 Than the stars119 Clogged before in the dark huddle of Chaos120 Alit glittering in their positions.

121 And now to bring quick life122 Into every corner123 He gave the bright ground of heaven124 To the gods, the stars and the planets.125 To the fish he gave the waters.126 To beasts the earth, to birds the air.

127 Nothing was any closer to the gods128 Than these humble beings,


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129 None with ampler mind,130 None with a will masterful and able131 To rule all the others.

132 Till man came.133 Either the Maker134 Conceiving a holier revision135 Of what he had already created136 Sculpted man from his own ectoplasm,137 Or earth138 Being such a new precipitate139 Of the etheric heaven140 Cradled in its dust unearthly crystals.

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141 Then Prometheus142 Gathered that fiery dust and slaked it143 With the pure spring water,144 And rolled it under his hands,145 Pounded it, thumbed it, moulded it146 Into a body shaped like that of a god.

147 Though all the beasts148 Hang their heads from horizontal backbones149 And study the earth150 Beneath their feet, Prometheus151 Upended man into the vertical---152 So to comprehend balance.153 Then tipped up his chin154 So to widen his outlook on heaven.

155 In this way the heap of all disorder156 Earth157 Was altered.158 It was adorned with the godlike novelty159 Of man.

160 And the first age was Gold.161 Without laws, without law's enforcers,162 This age understood and obeyed163 What had created it.164 Listening deeply, man kept faith with the source.


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165 None dreaded judgement.166 For no table of crimes measured out167 The degrees of torture allotted168 Between dismissal and death.169 No plaintiff

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170 Prayed in panic to the tyrant's puppet.171 Undefended all felt safe and were happy.

172 Then the great conifers173 Ruffled at home on the high hills.174 They had no premonition of the axe175 Hurtling towards them on its parabola.176 Or of the shipyards. Or of what other lands177 They would glimpse from the lift of the ocean swell.178 No man had crossed salt water.

179 Cities had not dug themselves in180 Behind deep moats, guarded by towers.181 No sword had bitten its own182 Reflection in the shield. No trumpets183 Magnified the battle-cries184 Of lions and bulls185 Out through the mouth-holes in helmets.

186 Men needed no weapons.187 Nations loved one another.188 And the earth, unbroken by plough or by hoe,189 Piled the table high. Mankind190 Was content to gather the abundance191 Of whatever ripened.192 Blackberry or strawberry, mushroom or truffle,193 Every kind of nut, figs, apples, cherries,194 Apricots and pears, and, ankle deep,195 Acorns under the tree of the Thunderer.196 Spring weather, the airs of spring,197 All year long brought blossom.198 The unworked earth199 Whitened beneath the bowed wealth of the corn.

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200 Rivers of milk mingled with rivers of nectar.201 And out of the black oak oozed amber honey.

202 After Jove had castrated Saturn,203 Under the new reign the Age of Silver---204 (Lower than the Gold, but better205 Than the coming Age of Brass)---206 Fell into four seasons.

207 Now, as never before,208 All colour burnt out of it, the air209 Wavered into flame. Or icicles210 Strummed in the wind that made them.211 Not in a cave, not in a half-snug thicket,212 Not behind a windbreak of wattles,213 For the first time214 Man crouched under a roof, at a fire.215 Now every single grain216 Had to be planted217 By hand, in a furrow218 That had been opened in earth by groaning oxen.

219 After this, third in order,220 The Age of Brass221 Brought a brazen people,222 Souls fashioned on the same anvil223 As the blades their hands snatched up224 Before they cooled. But still225 Mankind listened deeply226 To the harmony of the whole creation,227 And aligned228 Every action to the greater order

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229 And not to the moment's blind230 Apparent opportunity.

231 Last comes the Age of Iron.232 And the day of Evil dawns.233 Modesty,234 Loyalty,


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235 Truth,236 Go up like a mist---a morning sigh off a graveyard.

237 Snares, tricks, plots come hurrying238 Out of their dens in the atom.239 Violence is an extrapolation240 Of the cutting edge241 Into the orbit of the smile.242 Now comes the love of gain---a new god243 Made out of the shadow244 Of all the others. A god who peers245 Grinning from the roots of the eye-teeth.

246 Now sails bulged and the cordage cracked247 In winds that still bewildered the pilots.248 And the long trunks of trees249 That had never shifted in their lives250 From some mountain fastness251 Leapt in their coffins252 From wavetop to wavetop,253 Then out over the rim of the unknown.

254 Meanwhile the ground, formerly free to all255 As the air or sunlight,256 Was portioned by surveyors into patches,257 Between boundary markers, fences, ditches.

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258 Earth's natural plenty no longer sufficed.259 Man tore open the earth, and rummaged in her bowels.260 Precious ores the Creator had concealed261 As close to hell as possible262 Were dug up---a new drug263 For the criminal. So now iron comes264 With its cruel ideas. And gold265 With crueller. Combined, they bring war---266 War, insatiable for the one,267 With bloody hands employing the other.268 Now man lives only by plunder. The guest269 Is booty for the host. The bride's father,270 Her heirloom, is a windfall piggybank271 For the groom to shatter. Brothers272 Who ought to love each other


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273 Prefer to loathe. The husband longs274 To bury his wife and she him.275 Stepmothers, for the sake of their stepsons,276 Study poisons. And sons grieve277 Over their father's obdurate good health.278 The inward ear, attuned to the Creator,279 Is underfoot like a dog's turd. Astraea,280 The Virgin281 Of Justice---the incorruptible282 Last of the immortals---283 Abandons the blood-fouled earth.

284 But not even heaven was safe.285 Now came the turn of the giants.286 Excited by this human novelty---freedom287 From the long sight and hard knowledge288 Of divine wisdom---they coveted

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289 The very throne of Jove. They piled to the stars290 A ramp of mountains, then climbed it.

291 Almighty Jove292 Mobilised his thunderbolts. That salvo293 Blew the top off Olympus,294 Toppled the shattered295 Pelion off Ossa296 And dumped it297 Over the giants.298 They were squashed like ripe grapes.

299 Mother Earth, soaked with their blood,300 Puddled her own clay in it and created301 Out of the sludgy mortar new offspring302 Formed like men.

303 These hybrids were deaf304 To the intelligence of heaven. They were revolted305 By the very idea306 Of a god and sought only307 How to kill each other.308 The paternal bent for murder alone bred true.


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309 Observing all this from his height310 Jove groaned. It reminded him311 Of what Lycaon had done at a banquet.312 As he thought of that such a fury313 Took hold of the Father of Heaven314 It amazed even himself.

315 Then the gods jump to obey316 His heaven-shaking summons to council.

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317 The lesser gods come hurrying318 From all over the Universe.319 They stream along the Milky Way, their highway,320 To the Thunderer's throne321 Between wide-open halls, ablaze with lights,322 Where the chief gods323 Are housed in the precincts of Jove's palace324 At the very summit of heaven325 As in their own shrines.

326 When the gods had taken their seats327 Jove loomed over them,328 Leaning on his ivory sceptre.329 He swung back his mane330 With a movement that jolted331 The sea, the continents and heaven itself.332 His lips curled from the flame of his anger333 As he spoke: 'When the giants334 Whose arms came in hundreds,335 Each of them a separate sea-monster,336 Reached for heaven, I was less angered.337 Those creatures were dreadful338 But they were few---a single family.339 Many venomous branches, a single root.340 They could be plucked out with a single gesture.341 But now, to the ocean's furthest shore,342 I have to root out, family by family,343 Mankind's teeming millions.344 Yet I swear345 By the rivers than run through the underworld346 This is what I shall do.347 You think heaven is safe?


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348 We have a population of demi-gods,

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349 Satyrs, nymphs, fauns, the playful350 Spirits of wild places,351 Astral entities who loiter about.352 When we denied these the freedom of heaven353 We compensated them354 With their grottoes and crags, their woods and their well-springs,355 Their dells and knolls. In all these sanctuaries356 We should protect them.357 Imagine their fears358 Since the uncontrollable Lycaon359 Plotted against me, and attempted360 To do away with me---Jove, King of Heaven,361 Whose right hand362 Rests among thunderheads and whose left363 Sways the assemblies of heaven?'

364 The gods roared their outrage.365 They shouted366 For instant correction367 Of this madman.368 Just as when those gangsters369 Tried to wash out Rome's name370 With Caesar's blood,371 Mankind recoiled stunned372 As at the world's ending and373 The very air hallucinated horrors.

374 O Augustus, just as you see now375 The solicitude of all your people376 So did the Father of Heaven377 Survey that of the gods.

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378 Just so, too, the majesty of Jove379 Quieted heaven with a gesture.380 'This crime,' he told them,381 'Has been fully punished. What it was382 And how I dealt with it, now let me tell you.


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383 The corruption of mankind384 Rose to my nostrils, here in heaven,385 As a stench of putrid flesh.386 Seeking better news of the species387 I left Olympus, and in the shape of a man388 Walked the earth.389 If I were to recount, in every detail,390 How man has distorted himself391 With his greed, his lies, his indifference,392 The end of time, I think,393 Would overtake the reckoning.394 Alerted as I was395 I was still unprepared for what I found.396 I had crossed Maenalus---397 The asylum of lions and bears.398 I had passed Cyllene399 And the shaggy heights and gorges400 Of freezing Lycaeus.401 At nightfall402 I came to the unwelcoming hearth403 Of the Arcadian King.404 I revealed, with a sign,405 The presence of a god.406 But when the whole court407 Fell to the ground and worshipped,408 King Lycaon laughed.409 He called them credulous fools.410 "The simplest of experiments," he snarled,

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411 "Will show us whether this guest of ours412 Is the mighty god he wants us to think him413 Or some common rascal. Then the truth414 Will stare us all in the face."

415 'Lycaon's demonstration416 Was to be the shortest of cuts.417 He planned to come to my bed, where I slept that night,418 And kill me.419 But he could not resist embellishing420 His little test421 With one introductory refinement.


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422 'Among his prisoners, as a hostage,423 Was a Molossian. Lycaon picked this man,424 Cut his throat, bled him, butchered him425 And while the joints still twitched426 Put some to bob in a stew, the rest to roast.

427 'The moment428 He set this mess in front of me on the table429 I acted.430 With a single thunderbolt431 I collapsed his palazzo.432 One bang, and the whole pile came down433 Onto the household idols and jujus434 That this monster favoured.435 The lightning had gone clean through Lycaon.436 His hair was in spikes.437 Somehow he staggered438 Half-lifted by the whumping blast439 Out of the explosion.

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440 Then out across open ground441 Trying to scream. As he tried442 To force out screams443 He retched howls.444 His screams445 Were vomited howls.446 Trying to shout to his people447 He heard only his own howls.448 Froth lathered his lips.449 Then the blood-thirst, natural to him,450 Went insane.451 From that moment452 The Lord of Arcadia453 Runs after sheep. He rejoices454 As a wolf starved near death455 In a frenzy of slaughter.456 His royal garments, formerly half his wealth,457 Are a pelt of jagged hair.458 His arms are lean legs.459 He has become a wolf.

460 'But still his humanity clings to him


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461 And suffers in him.462 The same grizzly mane,463 The same black-ringed, yellow,464 Pinpoint-pupilled eyes, the same465 Demented grimace. His every movement possessed466 By the same rabid self.

467 'So one house is destroyed.468 But one only. Through the whole earth469 Every roof470 Is the den of a Lycaon.

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471 In this universal new religion472 All are fanatics---suckled473 Not by the sweet wisdom of heaven474 But by a wolf. All adore, all worship475 Greed, cruelty, the Lycaon476 In themselves. All are guilty.477 Therefore all must be punished. I have spoken.'

478 As he ended, one half the gods479 Added their boom of approval480 To his rage. The other deepened it481 With solid and silent assent.482 All were quietly appalled483 To imagine mankind annihilated.484 What would heaven do485 With a globeful of empty temples?486 Altars attended487 Only by spiders? Was earth's beauty488 Henceforth to be judged489 Solely by the single-minded490 Palates of wild beasts491 And returned to the worm492 Because man had failed?

493 God comforted the gods.494 If everything were left to him, he promised,495 He could produce a new humanity---496 Different from the first model and far497 More prudently fashioned.


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498 So now Jove set his mind to the deletion499 Of these living generations. He pondered500 Mass electrocution by lightning.

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501 But what if the atoms ignited,502 What if a single ladder of flame503 Rushing up through the elements504 Reduced heaven to an afterglow? Moreover,505 God as he was, he knew506 That earth's and heaven's lease for survival507 Is nothing more than a lease.508 That both must fall together---509 The globe and its brightness combined510 Like a tear511 Or a single bead of sweat---512 Into the bottomless fires of the first, last forge.

513 Afraid that he might just touch off that future514 With such weapons, forged in that same smithy,515 He reversed his ideas.516 He dipped his anger in the thought of water.517 Rain, downpour, deluge, flood---these518 Could drown the human race, and be harmless.

519 In a moment he had withdrawn the blast520 That fixes the Northern ice.521 He tethered the parching winds522 Off mountains and out of deserts523 That bare the flaring blue and crack lips.524 He gave the whole earth to the South Wind.525 Darkening into the East, and into the West,526 Two vast wings of water opened. One527 Thunderhead filled heaven,528 Feathered with darkness, bringing darkness529 From below the Equator.530 The face of this South Wind, as he came,531 Boiled with squalling tempest.

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532 Beard and hair were a whorl of hurricanes.


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533 He dragged whole oceans up, like a peacock shawl.534 And as he drubbed and wrung the clouds535 Between skyfuls of fist, quaking the earth,536 Shocks of thunder dumped the floods.537 Juno's messenger, the rainbow,538 Swept from earth to heaven, topping up the darkness.539 Every crop was flattened. The farmer's year540 Of labour dissolved as he wept.

541 But still there was not water enough in heaven542 To satisfy Jove's fury.543 So Neptune, his brother, god of the seas,544 Brought up tidal waves,545 And assembled every river546 There in the bottom of the ocean547 And ordered them to open their aquifers548 Ignoring all confines.549 The rivers raced back to their sources550 And erupted.551 Neptune himself harpooned the earth with his trident.552 Convulsed, it quaked open553 Crevasse beneath crevasse554 Disgorging the subterranean waters.

555 Now flood heaps over flood.556 Orchards, crops, herds, farms are scooped up557 And sucked down558 Into the overland maelstrom.559 Temples and their statues liquefy560 Kneeling into the swirls.561 Whatever roof or spire or turret562 Resists the rip of currents

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563 Goes under the climbing levels.564 Till earth and sea seem one---a single sea565 Without a shore.566 A few crowds are squeezed on diminishing islets567 Of hill-tops.568 Men are rowing in circles aimlessly, crazed,569 Where they ploughed straight furrows or steered wagons.570 One pitches a sail over corn.571 Another steers his keel


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572 Over his own chimney.573 One catches a fish in the top of an elm.574 Anchors drag over grazing575 Or get a grip under vine roots.576 Where lean goats craned for brown tufts577 Fat seals gambol over and under each other.

578 The nereids roam astounded579 Through submerged gardens,580 Swim in silent wonder into kitchens,581 Touch the eyes of marble busts that gaze582 Down long halls, under the wavering light.

583 Dolphins churn through copses.584 Hunting their prey into oak trees, they shake out acorns585 That sink slowly.586 Wolves manage awhile,587 Resting their heads on drowned and floating sheep.588 Lions ride exhausted horses. Tigers589 Try to mount foundering bullocks.590 The strong stag's fine long legs,591 Growing weedier, tangle in undercurrents.

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592 The wild boar, the poor swimmer, soon goes under.593 Even his faithful heavy defenders,594 The thunderbolt and lightning-flash of his tusks,595 Have joined the weight against him.596 Birds grow tired of the air.597 The ocean, with nowhere else to go,598 Makes its bed in the hills,599 Pulling its coverlet over bare summits.

600 While starvation picks off the survivors.

601 Drowned mankind, imploring limbs outspread,602 Floats like a plague of dead frogs.

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Phaethon

1 When Phaethon bragged about his father, Phoebus2 The sun-god,3 His friends mocked him. 'Your mother must be crazy4 Or you're crazy to believe her.5 How could the sun be anybody's father?'

6 In a rage of humiliation7 Phaethon came to his mother, Clymene.8 'They're all laughing at me,9 And I can't answer. What can I say? It's horrible.10 I have to stand like a dumb fool and be laughed at.

11 'If it's true, Mother,' he cried, 'if the sun,12 The high god Phoebus, if he is my father,13 Give me proof.14 Give me evidence that I belong to heaven.'15 Then he embraced her. 'I beg you,

16 'On my life, on your husband Merops' life,17 And on the marriage hopes of my sisters,18 Only give me proof that the sun is my father.'19 Either moved by her child's distress,20 Or piqued to defend her honour against the old rumour,

21 Clymene responded. She stretched her arms to the sun:22 'By the dazzling ball itself23 Who is watching us now, and is listening24 To everything I say, I swear25 You are his child. You are the son

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26 'Of that great star which lights up the whole world.27 If I lie, then I pray28 To go blind, this moment,29 And never again to see the light of day.30 But if you want so much to meet your father

31 'It is not impossible.


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32 He rises from that land beyond our borders.33 If you must have the truth about yourself34 Go and ask him for it.'35 Phaethon

36 Rushed out, his head ablaze37 With the idea of heaven.38 He crossed his own land, Ethiopia,39 Then India, that trembled in the sun's nearness,40 And came to his father's dawn palace.

41 Fittingly magnificent42 Columns underpropped a mass43 Of gold strata so bright44 The eyes flinched from it.45 The whole roof a reflector46 Of polished ivory.47 The silver doors like sheet flame---48 And worked into that flame49 Vulcan, the god of fire,50 Had set, in relief, a portrait of the creation.51 There were the seas. Triton52 Cruising in foam, through the swell,53 Making his lonely music.54 And Proteus, amoebic,55 Flitting from form to form,

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56 A submarine, shape-shifting shadow.57 And Aegeon, half-reclining,58 His arms across two whales.59 Dorcas was there with her daughters---60 Swimming, riding fishes,61 Or sitting on rocks and combing their hair.62 Each one quite different63 Yet all looking like sisters.64 And there, on earth, were the cities, the people,65 The woods, the beasts, the rivers, the nymphs66 And the spirits of wild places.67 Surrounding the whole thing, the Zodiac---68 On the right door six signs, and six on the left.


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69 Phaethon climbed the steep approach70 And entered the house of his father71 Who had brought him so much shame.72 He went straight in to the royal presence---73 But had to stand back: the huge light was so fierce74 He could not go near it.75 For there was the god---Phoebus, the sun,76 Robed in purple77 And sitting on a throne of emeralds78 That blazed,79 Splitting and refracting his flames.80 To right and left of him81 His annual retinue stood arrayed---82 The seasons, the generations, and the hours.83 Spring, crowned with a flower garland. Summer,84 Naked but for a coronet of ripe corn.85 Autumn, purple from treading the wine-press.86 And Winter, shivering in rags,

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87 His white hair and his beard88 Jagged with icicles.

89 The boy stared dumbfounded,90 Dazed by the marvel of it all.91 Then the great god92 Turned on him the gaze that misses nothing93 And spoke: 'Phaethon, my son!

94 'Yes, I call you my child---or rather, a man95 A father might be proud of. Why are you here?96 You must have come with a purpose. What is it?'97 Phaethon replied: 'O God, Light of Creation!98 O Phoebus, my father---if I may call you father!---

99 'If Clymene is not protecting herself100 From some shame by claiming your name for me101 Give me the solid proof.102 Let it be known to the whole world103 That I am your son. Remove all doubt.'

104 His father doffed his crown of blinding light105 And beckoning Phaethon closer, embraced him.


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106 'Do not fear to call me father.107 Your mother told you the truth.108 To free yourself from doubt---ask me for something.

109 'Anything, I promise you shall have it.110 And though I have never seen the lake in hell111 By which we gods in heaven make our oaths112 Inviolable, I call on that lake now113 To witness this oath of mine.'

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114 Phoebus had barely finished before Phaethon115 Asked for the chariot of the sun116 And one whole day driving the winged horses.117 His father recoiled. He almost118 Cursed his own oath. His head shook

119 As if it were trying to break its promise.120 'Your foolish words,' he said,121 'Show me the tragic folly of mine.122 If promises could be broken123 I would break this. I would deny you nothing

124 'Except this. Be persuaded125 The danger of what you ask is infinite---126 To yourself, to the whole creation.127 The forces, the materials, the laws128 Of all Creation are balanced

129 'On the course of that chariot and those horses.130 A boy could not hope to control them.131 You are my son, but mortal. No mortal132 Could hope to manage those reins.133 Not even the gods are allowed to touch them.

134 'Only see how foolish you are.135 The most conceited of the gods136 Knows better137 Than to dream he could survive138 One day riding the burning axle-tree.

139 'Yes, even Jupiter


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140 High god of all heaven, whose hand141 Cradles the thunderbolt---

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142 He keeps his fingers off those reins.143 And who competes with him?

144 'Our first stretch is almost vertical.145 Fresh as they are, first thing,146 It is all the horses can do to get up it.147 Then on to mid-heaven. Terrifying148 To look down through nothing

149 'At earth and sea, so tiny.150 My heart nearly struggles out of my body151 As the chariot sways.152 Then the plunge towards evening---153 There you need strength on the reins. Tethys,

154 'Who waits to receive me155 Into her waters, is always afraid156 I shall topple---157 And come tumbling158 Head over heels in a tangled mass.

159 'Remember, too,160 That the whole sky is revolving161 With its constellations, its planets.162 I have to force my course against that---163 Not to be swept backwards as all else is.

164 'What will you do,165 Your feet braced in the chariot, the reins in your hands,166 When you have to counter the pull167 Of the whirling Poles? When the momentum168 Of the whole reeling cosmos hauls you off sideways?

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169 'Maybe you expect170 To come across delectable cities of the gods,


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171 Groves and temples beautifully appointed,172 Much as on earth. It is not like that.173 Instead, benighted gulches, with monsters.

174 'Even if you were able to stick to the route175 You have to pass176 The horns of the Great Bull, the nasty arrows177 Of the Haemonian Archer, the gaping jaw178 Of the infuriated Lion,

179 'And the Scorpion's lifted spike, its pincers180 That grab for you from one side while the Crab181 Rushes at you with its double crushers182 From the other.183 And how could you cope with the horses?

184 'Even for me185 It is not easy, once they are fired up186 With the terrible burners187 That they stoke in their deep chests188 And that belch flames from their mouths and nostrils.

189 'Once their blood is up190 They will hardly obey me, and they know me.191 Think again. Do not ask me192 For what will destroy you.193 You ask me for solid proof that you are my son:

194 'My fears for your life are proof, solid enough.195 Look at me. If only your eyes196 Could see through to my heart and see it

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197 Sick with a father's distress.198 Choose anything else in Creation---it is yours.

199 'But this one thing you have chosen---200 I dare not grant it. Choose again, Phaethon.201 You have asked me not for an honour, as you suppose,202 But for a punishment. O my son,203 This is no honour, this is a punishment.

204 'You throw your arms around my neck and persist.


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205 You have no notion of what you are asking for.206 But I have sworn by Styx and you shall have207 Whatever you desire. Only, my son,208 Ask again, for something different, wiser.'

209 Phaethon seemed not to have heard.210 He wanted nothing but to drive211 The chariot and horses of the sun.212 His father could find no other means to delay him.213 He led him out to the chariot.

214 Vulcan had made it. The axle-tree was gold,215 And the chariot-pole gold. The wheel-rims were gold.216 The wheel-spokes silver. The harness, collar and traces,217 Crusted with chrysolites and other jewels218 Blazed in the beams of the sun-god.

219 And as Phaethon stood there, light-headed with confidence,220 Giddy with admiration221 Of the miraculous workmanship and detail,

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222 Dawn opened her purple doors behind him,223 Letting the roses spill from her chambers.

224 The stars decamped---their vanishing detachments225 Supervised by the morning star226 Who followed them last.227 When the sun-god saw that, and the reddening sky228 And the waning moon seeming to thaw

229 He called the Hours to yoke the horses.230 The light-footed goddesses brought them231 Swinging in steam from the high stables,232 Blowing soft flames, fat with ambrosia.233 Yoked to the chariot, they champed at the jangling bits.

234 But now as Phoebus anointed Phaethon235 With a medicinal blocker236 To protect him from the burning237 And fixed the crown of rays on the boy's head238 He saw the tragedy to come


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239 And sighed: 'At least, if you can,240 Stick to these instructions, my son.241 First: use the whip not at all, or lightly.242 But rein the team hard. It is not easy.243 Their whole inclination is to be gone.

244 'Second: avoid careering245 Over the whole five zones of heaven.246 Keep to the broad highway that curves247 Within the three zones, temperate and tropic.248 Avoid the Poles, and their killing blizzards.

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249 'Keep to that highway, follow the wheel ruts.250 Share your heat fairly251 Between heaven and earth, not too low252 And not crashing in among the stars. Too high253 You will set heaven aflame---and, too low, earth.

254 'The middle way is best, and safest.255 And do not veer too far to the right256 Where your wheels might crush the Serpent, nor to the left257 Where they might be shattered against the Altar.258 Take a bearing between them.

259 'Now Fortune go with you. And I pray260 She will take care of you better261 Than you have taken care of yourself.262 We have talked too long. Night has gone down263 Behind the world westward. No more delays.

264 'Our great light is looked for.

265 'Grasp the reins. Or better, with a changed mind,266 While your feet are still on the earth,267 Before you have hurled your idiot emulation268 Among the terrors of space,269 Grasp my advice.

270 'Leave my chariot to me.271 Let me give the world the light it expects,272 A light for you to smile at in safety.'


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273 But Phaethon, too drunk with his youth to listen,274 Ignored the grieving god

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275 And leapt aboard, and catching the reins276 From his father's hands, joyfully thanked him.277 Pyrois, Eous, Aethon, Phlegon---278 The four winged horses stormed to be off.279 Their whinnyings quaked the air-waves,

280 A writhing crackle of interference281 Throughout heaven. And their pawing hooves282 Racketed at the barred gate.283 Then Tethys (who knew nothing284 Of the part about to be played by her grandson)285 Lifted the bars---and all space286 Lay open to the racers.

287 They burst upwards, they hurled themselves288 Ahead of themselves,289 Winged hooves churning cloud.290 They outstripped those dawn winds from the East---291 But from the first moment292 They felt something wrong with the chariot.293 The load was too light.294 More like a light pinnace295 Without ballast or cargo,296 Without the deep-keeled weight to hold a course,297 Bucking and flipping298 At every wave,299 Sliding away sidelong at every gust.300 The chariot301 Bounced and was whisked about as if it were empty.

302 When the horses felt this303 They panicked.304 They swerved off the highway

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305 And plunged into trackless heaven.


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306 Their driver, rigid with fear,307 Gripped the chariot rail. It was true,308 He had neither the strength nor the skill309 To manage those reins.310 And even if he could have controlled311 The wild heads of the horses312 He did not know the route.

313 For the first time314 The stars of the Plough smoked.315 And though the Arctic Ocean316 Was forbidden to them they strained317 To quench themselves in it.

318 And the Serpent319 That hibernated close to the Pole Star320 Harmless, and inert in the cold, woke321 Scorched, lashing, furious to cool itself.

322 Even slow Bootes puffed and scrambled323 To get away from the heat,324 Dragging his plough like an anchor.

325 And now Phaethon looked down326 From the zenith---327 And saw the earth328 So far below, so terrifyingly tiny,329 His whole body330 Seemed suddenly bloodless.331 His knees wobbled, his eyes332 Dazzled and darkened.333 He wished he had never seen his father's horses.

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334 He wished he had never learned335 Who his father was. He wished his father336 Had broken his promise.337 He wanted only to be known338 As the son of Merops.

339 Meanwhile the chariot bounded along340 Like a ship under a gale


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341 When seas have smashed the rudder342 And the ropes have gone343 And the helmsman344 Crouches and clings in the scuppers,345 And prays,346 Hiding his eyes with his arm.

347 What could he do?348 Much of the sky was behind him,349 But always more ahead.350 He looked East, trying to measure351 What he had covered.352 He looked West---where his Fate lay waiting.353 Either way, nothing could help him.

354 His wrists were looped in the reins he no longer355 Had the strength to cling to.356 Even the horses' names had gone out of his head.

357 And now he saw the monsters358 Littered among the constellations.359 The Scorpion loomed,360 Suspending his tail361 Over the wide embrace of his claws,362 Sprawling across two signs of the Zodiac.

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363 When Phaethon saw that, when he saw364 The ponderous talon of the sting, bulbed with poison,365 He dropped the reins.366 They fell in a tangle over the horses.367 Then the horses took off, blindly.368 Uncontrolled, they let their madness369 Fling them this way and that370 All over the sky.371 They dashed in among the stars372 Switching the chariot along373 Like a whip-tail.374 They swept low---till the clouds boiled in their wake375 And the moon was astonished376 To see her brother's chariot below her.


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377 Earth began to burn, the summits first.378 Baked, the cracks gaped. All fields, all thickets,379 All crops were instant fuel---380 The land blazed briefly.381 In the one flare noble cities382 Were rendered383 To black stumps of burnt stone.384 Whole nations, in all their variety,385 Were clouds of hot ashes, blowing in the wind.386 Forest-covered mountains were bonfires.387 Athos burned.388 Cilician Taurus and Tmolus,389 Oeta and Ida, formerly blessed for its springs,390 Helicon, home of the Muses, all burned.391 And Haemus, that Orpheus would make famous.392 The twin peaks of Parnassus, and Cynthus and Eryx,393 Were pillars of fire. Etna convulsed394 In multiple eruptions.

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395 The snows of Rhodope396 Boiled off, and the ridges glowed.397 Othrys, Mimas, Dindyma, Mycale398 And Cithaeron, dancing place of the Bassarids,399 Were ablaze.400 Scythia's freezing winds could not protect it.401 Ossa, Pindus, Olympus bigger than either,402 The Alps that look across Europe403 And the Apennines, their clouds gone,404 Burned like fleeces.

405 Now Phaethon saw the whole world406 Mapped with fire. He looked through flames407 And he breathed flames.408 Flame in and flame out, like a fire-eater.409 As the chariot sparked white-hot410 He cowered from the showering cinders.411 His eyes streamed in the fire-smoke.412 And in the boiling darkness413 He no longer knew where he was414 Or where he was going.415 He hung on as he could and left everything


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416 To the horses.

417 That day, they say,418 The Ethiopians were burnt black.419 That day,420 Lybia, in a flash of steam,421 Became a shimmering desert,422 Where the nymphs of the springs and lakes423 Wandered like wraiths, wailing for lost water.424 Boeotia wept for the fountain of Dirce,425 Argos for Amymone, Ephyre for Pyrene.

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426 Strong rivers fared no better.427 The shallows of Tanais fried. Old Peneus,428 Mysian Caecus and the headlong Ismenus---429 Their shallows and riffles bubbled as if over pebbles430 That were red-hot.431 And Trojan Xanthus, who would be burned again.432 Yellow Lycormas poured a reeking soup.433 Looped Meander steamed like a scalded serpent.434 Melas in Thrace, Eurotas in Sparta,435 Euphrates in Babylon,436 Orontes, Thermodon, Ganges, Phasis and Hister437 Seemed to smoulder in their beds.438 Alpheus dived through fire. Sperchius439 Crept between banks that broke into flame.440 The gold in Tagus melted.441 The singing swans of Cayster442 Cried in dismay as the river boiled,443 Scalding and stripping their plumage.444 The terrified Nile445 Escaped into Africa, and hid his head446 Among smouldering mountains, leaving the seven447 Delta channels448 To blow into dunes.449 Ismarus' bed was a gully of burning dust.450 The Rhine, the Rhône, the Po and the Tiber451 Which had been promised an Empire452 Were bubbling pits of quag in scabby trenches.453 The earth cracked open. And the unnatural light454 Beamed down into hell


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455 Scaring the king and queen of that kingdom456 With their own terrific shadows.457 The seas shrank, baring deserts.458 Submarine mountains emerged as islands,

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459 Multiplying the Cyclades.460 Fish hugged the bottom of their deepest holes.461 Seals bobbed belly up, lifeless.462 And the dolphins stayed far down.463 Three times464 Neptune reared his angry head and shoulders465 Above the bubbling surface466 And each time plunged again467 To escape the searing flames of the air.

468 Then the Goddess of Earth469 Alarmed by the waters crowding into her bowels470 Pushed up through the embers471 And lifted her head and neck into the furnace.

472 She spread her hand473 To shield her face from the sun.474 The terror475 That shook her body shook the whole earth.476 She crouched lower and cried477 With her holy voice:478 'You God of the gods,479 If my annihilation480 Has been decided, why drag it out?481 Where are your thunderbolts482 To finish the whole thing quickly?483 If I am to end in fire484 Let it be your fire, O God,485 That would redeem it a little.486 I can hardly speak.'487 She choked in a squall of ashes.488 'See my hair singed to the roots,489 My eyes cauterised by your glare.

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490 Are these my reward491 For my fertility, my limitless bounty,492 My tireless production?493 Is this my compensation494 For undergoing the ploughshare,495 The pick and the mattock,496 My flesh gouged and attacked and ground to a tilth497 Year in year out? Is this how you pay me498 For foddering fat beasts,499 For plumping the milky grain that suckles man,500 For concocting the essences and rich herbs501 That smoke on your altars?502 Even if I have somehow deserved all this503 How are the seas guilty, or your brother?504 Why should the oceans, that are his portion,505 Cringe and shrink from the sky?506 But if you are deaf to us507 What about your own heaven? Look at it.508 Both Poles are glowing. Once they go509 Your whole realm flies off its axle,510 Your palace is rubbish in space.511 And look at Atlas. He is in trouble.512 His shoulders are fabulous, but who can carry513 The incineration of a Universe?'

514 Then heat overcame her. Little by little515 She drew in her smoking head,516 Like a tortoise, and sank into herself---517 Into the caves, close to the land of ghosts.

518 The Almighty, aroused,519 Called on the gods,520 Including Phoebus who had lent the chariot---

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521 He asked them to witness522 That heaven and earth could be saved only523 By what he now must do.524 He soared to the top of heaven,525 Into the cockpit of thunder.526 From here he would pour the clouds527 And roll the thunders and hurl bolts.


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528 But now he was cloudless---529 There was not a drop of rain in all heaven.

530 With a splitting crack of thunder he lifted a bolt,531 Poised it by his ear,532 Then drove the barbed flash point-blank into Phaethon.533 The explosion534 Snuffed the ball of flame535 As it blew the chariot to fragments. Phaethon536 Went spinning out of his life.

537 The crazed horses scattered.538 They tore free, with scraps of the yoke,539 Trailing their broken reins.540 The wreckage fell through space,541 Shattered wheels gyrating far apart,542 Shards of the car, the stripped axle,543 Bits of harness---all in slow motion544 Sprinkled through emptiness.

545 Phaethon, hair ablaze,546 A fiery speck, lengthening a vapour trail,547 Plunged towards the earth548 Like a star549 Falling and burning out on a clear night.

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550 In a remote land551 Far from his home552 The hot current553 Of the broad Eridanus554 Quenched his ember---555 And washed him ashore.556 The Italian nymphs557 Buried his remains, that were glowing again558 And flickering little flames559 Of the three-forked fire from God.560 Over his grave, on a rock they wrote this:561 Here lies Phoebus' boy who died562 In the sun's chariot.563 His strength too human, and too hot564 His courage and his pride.


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565 His father mourned, hidden,566 Eclipsed with sorrow.567 They say no sun showed on that day.568 But the fires of the burning earth569 Were so far useful, to give some light.570 And now Clymene's outcry571 Equalled the catastrophe.572 Mad with grief, she searched the whole earth573 To find the boy's limbs, or his bones.574 She came to the grave. With her breasts naked575 She embraced the engraved rock.

576 The daughters of the sun grieved as keenly,577 Beating their breasts,578 Throwing themselves down on their brother's tomb,579 Calling incessantly580 For the one who would never hear them.

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581 Days, weeks, months, they mourned.582 Their lamentations were obsessive,583 As if they could never exhaust them584 They wore out four full moons with their wailings585 Until at last Phaethusa---586 As she flung herself to the ground---587 Cried out that her feet were fixed of a sudden.588 And Lampetie, as she stepped to help her,589 Found her own feet rooted, immovable.

590 A third, tearing her hair,591 Brought away handfuls of leaves.592 One screamed that a tree bole593 Had imprisoned her calves and thighs.594 Another was whimpering with horror595 To find her arms crooking into stiff branches.596 And as they all struggled in vain597 To escape or understand, tree bark,598 Rough and furrowed, crept on upwards599 Over their bodies, throats, faces---600 Till it left only their lips, human enough601 To call for their mother.


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602 And what could she do603 But stagger to and fro604 In growing terror---605 Torn this way and that,606 Kissing the mouths she could still find?607 And when she tried to free her daughters608 Ripping at the bark, and snapping the branches---609 A liquid, like blood,610 Came welling out of the wounds,

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611 And the mouths screamed:612 'O Mother, do not hurt us.613 Though we are trees614 We are your daughters---615 Oh now we must leave you.'

616 So their last words were silenced617 By the sealing bark.618 But then, through that bark,619 There oozed lymph like tears, that in the sun's light620 Solidified as amber.621 These dropped from the boughs622 Into the hurrying river623 Which carried them off624 To adorn, some day far in the future,625 Roman brides.

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Callisto and Arcas

1 After Phaethon's disaster2 Jove was repairing the earth,3 Clothing the burnt lands again with life---

4 But even such a labour of love,


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5 So urgent, has to yield6 To one even more urgent.

7 And there she was---the Arcadian beauty, Callisto.8 He stared. Lust bristled up his thighs9 And poured into the roots of his teeth.

10 She wasn't the sort11 That sat at home, her eyes in a daze12 On the whirl of a spinning wheel, or a mirror.

13 She loped along with the huntress Diana,14 Her tunic pinned with a bold brooch,15 Her ponytail in a white ribbon

16 And in her hand a bow or a javelin.17 Of all Maenalus' nymphs she was Diana's18 Favourite. But favourites have to fall.

19 The sun was well past noon when this girl20 Came in under the massive cooling columns21 Of a virgin forest. She slackened her bow

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22 And setting her quiver as a pillow23 Flung herself down among the anemones24 On the sun-littered floor of the woodland.

25 And that is where Jupiter spotted her.26 Defenceless, drowsing, languid. 'A wonder!'27 He breathed, 'that my wife need never disturb,

28 Or if she happens to, the price will be worth it.'29 Callisto woke to a voice. Above her30 Diana's perfect double, gazing down,

31 Was speaking to her: 'Best-loved of all my virgins32 Where did you hunt today? On which ridges,33 Down which valleys?' The girl sat up, astonished---

34 'O Goddess, O my divine mistress---35 Greater than Jupiter---


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36 And I don't care if he hears me---' Jove smiled

37 Secretly behind his disguise38 Delighted to receive more adulation39 Than himself. He stretched beside her and kissed her,

40 A kiss more than maidenly, that roughened---41 A kiss that, as she tried to answer him,42 Gagged her voice, while his arms tightened round her,

43 Straitjacketing her body, and his action44 Revealed45 The god---irresistible and shameless.

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46 Callisto's piety had limits.47 She fought. If Juno had seen how she fought48 Her final cruelty might have been modified.

49 But it was no good. Desperately as she denied him50 The God of gods went off home contented51 As if from heavenly bliss to heavenly bliss.

52 The girl wept. Suddenly, she hated the forest,53 The flowers, that had watched while it happened.54 She was in such a hurry to get away

55 She almost abandoned her bow and her quiver.56 Diana, coming along the ridge of Maenalus57 With her virgin troop, after hard hunting,

58 Saw her darling, and called her. Callisto's59 Jumpy terror of Diana's likeness60 Grabbed with electric hands, and she bolted---

61 But then recognised her friends, the virgins62 Who ran with the goddess,63 And knew this could not be Jove. So she joined them.

64 But changed now. How hard it is65 To keep guilt out of the face!66 She no longer led the troop---


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67 Was no longer the boisterous nearest68 To the goddess. She hung back, eyes to the ground,69 As if slinking along from hiding to hiding.

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70 If any spoke to her she blushed, then paled.71 Without her divinity Diana72 Could not have missed the thousand human tokens

73 That were no puzzle to the nymphs.74 Nine months passed. Finally came the day,75 Heated with hunting under the hot sun

76 Diana led her company into a grove77 With a cool stream over smooth pebbles.78 'Here is a place,' she called,

79 'Where we can strip and bathe and be unseen.'80 The Arcadian girl was in a panic.81 The rest were naked in no time---she delayed,

82 She made excuses. Then all the others83 Stripped her by force---and with shrill voices84 Exclaimed at her giveaway belly

85 That she tried pitifully to hide86 With her hands. The goddess, outraged,87 Cried: 'Do not defile this water or us.

88 'Get away from us now and for ever.'89 Meanwhile, Juno had seen everything.90 She was merely waiting for an occasion

91 To exact the exemplary punishment.92 The moment Jove's bastard was born---93 A boy, Arcas!---her fury exploded.

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94 She stared in wild hatred at the new infant.95 'So,' she screamed at Callisto, 'the world can see96 You have perfected your insult---and my shame.

97 'Now see me perfect my revenge98 On this beauty of yours99 That so unbalanced my husband.'

100 She grabbed the girl by the hair101 Above her forehead, and jerked her down flat on her face.102 As Callisto lay there, pleading for mercy

103 With outstretched arms---those arms the god had caressed104 Suddenly bushed thick with black hair,105 Her hands curved into scoops of long talons---

106 They had become feet. And her mouth107 That Jupiter had kissed in his rapture108 Was fanged jaws, like a torn open wound.

109 Then to empty her cries of their appeal110 The goddess nipped off her speech. Instead of words111 A shattering snarl burst from her throat, a threat---

112 Callisto was a bear.113 Yet her mind was unaltered. Her lament114 Was the roar of a bear---but her grief was human.

115 And though they were a bear's forepaws116 That she raked at heaven's face with,117 Her despair over Jove's ingratitude,

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118 Though she could not speak it, was a girl's.119 Afraid of sleeping in the woods, she crept into the gardens120 Of what had been her home.

121 Often she galloped for her life122 Hearing the hounds. Often she laboured, gasping,123 Hunted across the hillsides where she had hunted.

124 Sometimes she forgot what she was


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125 And hid from the other creatures. As before---126 Above all, what this bear feared were the bears.

127 She also feared the wolves,128 Though her own father129 Was out there among them, one of them.

130 Meanwhile, Arcas grew to his fifteenth year.131 He knew nothing at all132 About his mother. Hunting was his passion.

133 One day, after choosing the ground carefully,134 Reckoning with the wind135 And with the lie of the land

136 Arcas had pitched his nets137 Among the scrubby coverts of Erymanthis.138 As he started the drive, of a sudden

139 Out of the long grass his mother140 Reared upright to face him,141 Standing tall to see him better, fearless,

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142 As if she recognised him. She recognised him.143 Arcas backed slowly, mouth dry,144 Terror, three parts wisdom, staring

145 Fixedly at the eyes that stared at him.146 But when she dropped on all fours147 And he saw her shaggy shoulders

148 Humping through undergrowth towards him149 He could not think what this great beast intended150 If not to kill him. He braced himself

151 Behind his spear152 To meet her momentum153 And drive that long, keen-ground blade as deeply

154 Into her body as he could. Jupiter155 Saw it all. He stooped down from heaven


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156 And blocked the bronze point with his fingertip.

157 Then spun mother and son up in a whirlwind.158 So these two, about to be reunited159 In that bloody crime and tragic error,

160 Found themselves far out in space, transformed161 To constellations, the Great Bear and the Small,162 Dancing around the Pole Star together.

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The Rape of Proserpina

1 Ceres was the first2 To split open the grassland with a ploughshare.3 The first4 To plant corn and nurse harvests.5 She was the first to give man laws.

6 Everything man has he owes to Ceres.7 So now I sing of her8 And so I pray my song may be worthy9 Of this great goddess,10 For surely she is worthy of the song.

11 The giant Typhon, that upstart who had dared12 To hope for a home in heaven,13 Felt his strength returning. He stirred,14 Squashed15 Under the massive slab of Sicily.

16 His right hand, reaching towards Rome,17 Was crushed under Pelorus,18 His left hand under Pachynnus,19 His legs under Lilybaeum20 And his enormous head under Etna.

21 Flat on his back, he vomited ashes,22 Flame, lava, sulphur. His convulsions


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23 Shrugged off cities,24 Quaked mountains to rubble.25 The whole of Sicily trembled.

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26 The Lord of Hell was aghast to see bedrock27 Heaving in waves, like ocean. He looked upwards28 For earth's crust to come caving in29 Letting the sunglare into hell's glooms,30 Dazzling the spectres. Anxious

31 In a black chariot, behind black horses,32 The King of Terrors33 Thundered up34 To reconnoitre the roof of his kingdom.35 He scrutinised the island's foundations,

36 Double-checked every crevasse, crack, fault,37 For sign of a shift.38 Probed every weak spot with his sceptre39 Tapping rocks and analysing echoes.40 Everything seemed to be sound

41 And he began to feel better. It was then42 Aphrodite, sitting on her mountain,43 Noticed him.44 She woke her winged boy, embraced him, kissed him.45 'My child,' she whispered, 'you who are all my power,

46 'You who are my arms, my hands, my magic,47 Bend your bow, my darling,48 And sink your shaft, which never missed a challenge,49 Into the heart of that god50 Who rules hell.

51 'The deities of the upper world are yours52 Whenever you please. Even great Jupiter---53 Like a helpless figment of your fancy---

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54 Whatever folly you plot, he will perform it.55 The gods of the sea, no less,

56 'Dance to your prompting arrows, your spurs,57 Your goads, your tickling barbs.58 That great earth-shaker, Neptune,59 Is no more than your trophy.60 Over all these your rule is hardly questioned.

61 'It is time to expand our empire, my child,62 Into that third realm---the underworld.63 A third of Creation---there for the taking.64 Heaven mocks our forbearance, and exploits it.65 Your power is less than it was, and mine too.

66 'I have lost Pallas67 And the great huntress Diana---both gone.68 And now Ceres' daughter, Proserpina,69 Wants to stay a virgin. Do we permit it?70 Now is your opportunity.

71 'If you have any pride in our dominion72 Fasten that goddess and her grim uncle73 Together with one bolt.'74 Even as he listened to his mother75 Cupid's fingers found the very arrow

76 For the job---one in a thousand---77 True as a ray of the sun tipped with a photon.78 He set the soles of his feet to the belly of the bow79 And hauling the fletched notch to his chin dimple80 Buried it in the dark heart of Pluto.

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81 Near Enna's walls is a deep lake82 Known as Pergusa.83 The swans on that surface make a music84 Magical as the songs85 On the swift currents of Cayster.86 Trees encircling it87 Knit their boughs to protect it88 From the sun's flame.


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89 Their leaves nurse a glade of cool shade90 Where it is always spring, with spring's flowers.

91 Proserpina was playing in that glade92 With her companions.93 Brilliant as butterflies94 They flitted hither and thither excitedly95 Among lilies and violets. She was heaping96 The fold of her dress with the flowers,97 Hurrying to pick more, to gather most,98 Piling more than any of her friends into baskets.99 There the Lord of Hell suddenly saw her.100 In the sweep of a single glance101 He fell in love102 And snatched her away---103 Love pauses for nothing.

104 Terrified, she screamed for her mother,105 And screamed to her friends. But louder106 And again and again to her mother.107 She ripped her frock from her throat downwards---108 So all her cherished flowers scattered in a shower.109 Then in her childishness110 She screamed for her flowers as they fell,111 While her ravisher leaped with her

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112 Into his chariot, shouting to the horses113 Each one by name,114 Whipping their necks with the reins, like the start of a race,115 And they were off. They were gone---116 Leaving the ripped turf and the shocked faces.

117 Over deep lakes they went,118 And over the fumaroles of the Palici119 Where reeking pools boil sulphur.120 Past the walled stronghold121 Of the Bacchiae, who came from Corinth122 And built their city123 Between a large and a small harbour.

124 Near Cyane and Pisaean Arethusa125 Jagged headlands clasp a narrow cove


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126 Named after Cyane, who lives there---127 Among all Sicily's nymphs the most famous.128 Cyane129 Reared from the water to her waist130 And recognised Proserpina.131 'You have gone too far, Pluto,' she cried.132 'You cannot be son-in-law to Ceres133 If she does not want you.134 You should not have kidnapped this child135 But asked for her hand according to custom.136 The comparison is remote137 But I was loved by Anapis.138 He did not carry me off in a violent passion.139 He never alarmed me. He was gentle.140 And after a courtship of prayers141 I was willingly won.'

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142 Cyane stretched her arms as she spoke,143 To block the path of the horses.144 Then the son of Saturn, in a fury,145 Plunged his royal sceptre146 Down through the bed of her pool147 And called to his savage horses.148 The bottom of the pool split wide open,149 And they dived---150 Horses, chariot, Pluto and his prize---151 Straight into hell.

152 Cyane bewailed the rape of the goddess153 And the violation of her fountain.154 She wept over these wrongs155 In secret, as if her heart156 Were weeping its blood.157 Nothing could comfort her.158 Gradually, her sorrow159 Melted her into the very waters160 Of which she had been the goddess.161 Her limbs thinned, her bones became pliant,162 Her nails softened. Swiftly she vanished163 Into flowing water---first164 Her slighter parts, her hair, fingers,


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165 Feet, legs, then her shoulders,166 Her back, her breasts, her sides, and at last167 No longer blood but clear simple water168 Flowed through her veins, and her whole body169 Became clear simple water. Nothing remained170 To hold or kiss but a twisting current of water.

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171 In despair172 Ceres ransacked the earth.173 No dawn sodden with dew174 Ever found her resting. The evening star175 Never found her weary.

176 She had torn up two pine trees,177 Kindled both in Etna,178 And holding them high179 Through the long nights180 it her path of glittering frost.

181 When the sun rose to console her,182 Melting the stars, she strode on---183 From rising to setting seeking her daughter.184 But fatigue and, worse than fatigue, thirst,185 Finally overtook her.

186 Looking for a stream, she found a cottage.187 She knocked and asked for water.188 An old woman brought her a drink189 Of crushed herbs and barley.190 While Ceres drank, a boy stared at her---

191 A cocky brat, who jeered192 And called her a greedy guzzling old witch.193 His mouth was still wide, his eyes laughing,194 When the whole jugful of broth hit him in the face.195 The goddess went on glaring at him

196 As the speckles of the herbs and barley197 Stained into his skin, and his arms198 Shrank to legs but skinnier,


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199 His whole bodyful of mischief200 Shrank to a shape smaller than a lizard

201 With a long tail.202 The old woman let out a cry203 And reached for him, but was frightened to touch him204 As he scrambled for cover---205 He had become a newt.

206 The lands and the seas207 Across which Ceres roamed208 Make too long a list.209 Searching the whole earth she found herself210 Right back where she had started---Sicily.

211 And so she came to the fount of Cyane,212 Who would have told her everything213 But her mouth and tongue were dumb water.214 Yet they could convey something.215 Proserpina's girdle had fallen

216 Into the pool. Now Cyane's currents217 Rolled this to the surface, floating it218 Past the startled eyes of the mother.219 It was as if only now220 Ceres first heard of her loss.

221 She ripped her hair out in knots.222 She hammered her breasts with her clenched fists.223 Yet still she knew nothing224 Of where her daughter might be.225 She accused every country on earth,

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226 Reproached them all for their ingratitude,227 Called them unworthy of their harvests.228 Above the rest, she cursed Sicily229 That had kept this token of her daughter.230 Then she slew man and beast in the furrow


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231 With an instant epidemic, throughout the island.232 She broke up the ploughs with her bare hands,233 Forbade the fields to bear a crop234 Of any kind. She made all seed sterile.235 This island, that had boasted its plenty

236 Throughout the world, lay barren.237 As soon as the blade showed green---the grain died.238 Floods, heatwaves, and tempests239 Sluiced away or dried and blew off the tilth.240 The bared seeds were collected by birds.

241 Whatever managed to grow242 Grew clogged and matted243 With what nobody wanted---244 Briars, thistles, thick, fat, creeping weeds245 That defied the farmer.

246 Then Arethusa, the nymph that Alpheus loved,247 Lifted her head from her pool,248 Swept back her streaming hair, and called to Ceres:249 'Great Mother of earth's harvests,250 You who have searched through the whole world

251 'For your vanished daughter,252 You have laboured enough, but have raged too much253 Against the earth, which was always loyal to you.

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254 The earth is innocent. If she opened herself255 To the ravisher, who struck her so cruelly,

256 'She was far from willing. I am not defending257 My own land. I am from Elis,258 Born in Pisa. Though I arrived here259 A stranger to Sicily, now I love it260 Above all other places.

261 'This is now the home of Arethusa.262 I shall live here for ever. And I beg you,263 Goddess, to protect it.264 Some day, when you are happier,


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265 There will be time for me to tell you

266 'Why I left my home, and crossed the seas267 To come to Ortygia.268 Enough that I roamed through the earth, under the earth.269 The earth's deepest caves opened a pathway,270 Till I came up here---and raising my head

271 'Recognised the stars I had almost forgotten.272 But while I was under the earth273 As I slid through the Stygian pool274 In the underworld, I felt myself275 Reflecting a face that looked down at me.

276 'It was your Proserpina.277 She was not happy. Her face was pinched with fear.278 Nevertheless, she was a great queen---279 The greatest in that kingdom of spectres.280 She is the reigning consort of hell's tyrant.'

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281 Ceres seemed to be turning to stone282 As she listened.283 For a long time she was like stone.284 Then her stupor was shattered by a scream of fury285 As she leaped into her chariot.

286 Jupiter was astonished287 When she materialised in front of him,288 Her hair one wild snarl of disarray,289 Her face inflamed and swollen with sobbing,290 And her voice hacking at him, attacking:

291 'She is your daughter---292 Not only mine, but yours too---293 You have to do something.294 If her mother's pleas are powerless295 Maybe her father's heart will stir for her.

296 'Don't love her any the less297 For my part in her.298 After my long search, our daughter is found.


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299 If you can call it finding to have unearthed her300 Where she is lost for ever.

301 'Only let me have her back now302 And I would forgive whoever took her,303 Even though not a hair of her were mine.304 A bandit, a ruffian, is no husband305 For a daughter of Jove.'

306 The high god answered calmly:307 'I love our daughter no less than you do.308 I am bound to her by blood no less than you are.

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309 But see things as they stand. Let your words310 Fit the facts. Is this a theft

311 'Or an act of love? Once you accept him,312 This is a son-in-law to be proud of.313 Even if he were worthless314 He is still the brother of Jupiter.315 As it is, in everything

316 'He is my equal, only not so lucky317 In the lottery318 That gave heaven to me and hell to him.319 Still, if you are determined to take her from him320 You can have her---but on one condition.

321 'The sole condition---322 Fixed by the Fates---323 Is this:324 She can return to heaven325 On condition, hear me, on condition

326 'That she never tasted hell's food.'327 Jupiter finished. And Ceres was away328 To collect her daughter.329 But the Fates stopped her.330 Proserpina had eaten something.

331 Absently straying through Pluto's332 Overloaded orchard, she had plucked


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333 A pomegranate. Picked its hard rind open334 And sucked the glassy flesh from seven seeds.335 Almost nothing, but more than enough.

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336 And she had been observed, as she nibbled,337 By Ascalaphus. Orphne,338 A nymph well known339 In the sunless forest of Avernus,340 Impregnated by Acheron, her husband,

341 Had produced this tell-tale,342 Who now blabbed343 What he had spied through the leaves,344 So closing hell's gates on Proserpina.345 The Queen of the Underworld groaned,

346 Scooped a handful of water347 From the infernal river Phlegethon348 And throwing it in the face of that babbler349 Transformed it to an owl's---350 A face all beak and huge eyes.

351 Ascalaphus fainted.352 He came to353 Between big brown wings,354 His human shape gone.355 Now nearly all head,

356 The rest of him---long feathery legs,357 With feet that were nothing358 But bunches of long hooks,359 And wings that seemed almost too heavy to lift.360 He had become an owl,

361 A sleepy owl, hated by men,362 The bird with a screech you'd think a corpse363 Might make if a corpse

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364 Could float up from the underworld365 With bad news for you and yours.

366 And maybe that spy got his deserts367 For his mischief.368 But what did the daughters of Achelous do wrong?369 They too were turned into birds370 In everything but their faces.

371 Was it bad luck by association372 To have been Proserpina's playmates373 At the flower-picking---374 And did their singing, their miraculous chorus,375 Fail to redeem them?

376 No, they too had gone searching for her377 All over the world. In the end378 They prayed for wings to cross the seas379 And tell the ocean depths of their trouble.380 The gods consented, and the amazed girls

381 Saw their bodies equipped with golden plumage,382 And the wings and feet of birds. But their singing,383 So loved by the gods, escaped this mutation.384 Their tongues, their throats, their voices remained unaltered---385 Live shrines of unearthly human voices.

386 Now Jupiter intervened387 Between his brother and his grieving sister.388 He parted the year's round into two halves.

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389 From this day, Proserpina,390 The goddess who shares both kingdoms, divides her year

391 Between her husband in hell, among spectres,392 And her mother on earth, among flowers.393 Her nature, too, is divided. One moment394 Gloomy as hell's king, but the next395 Bright as the sun's mass, bursting from clouds.

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Arethusa

1 Ceres, happy again to have her daughter,2 Returned to Arethusa, curious3 To learn why she ran from home, and just how4 She became a sacred fountain.

5 The pool grew calm as the goddess6 Rose out of the depth.7 She gathered up her green hair and from it8 Wringing the heavy water began9 The old story of how she was loved by a river.

10 'I was a nymph of Achaia.11 None loved the woods,12 And setting their hunting nets, as keenly as I did.13 I was all action and energy,14 And never thought of my looks.15 Even so, my looks, yes, my beauty16 Made others think of me.17 The fame of my appearance burdened me.18 The attractions19 That all the other girls were sick to have20 Sickened me, that I had them.

21 Because they attracted men, I thought them evil.

22 'There came a day23 I had exhausted myself24 In the Stymphalian Forest. The heat was frightening.25 And my efforts, harrying the game,26 Had doubled its effect on me.

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27 I found a stream, deep but not too deep,28 Quiet and clear---so clear,29 Every grain of sand seemed magnified.30 And so quiet, the broad clarity


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31 Hardly dimpled.32 The poplars and willows that drank at it33 Were doubled in a flawless mirror.34 I waded in---footsoles, ankles, knees.35 Then stripped,36 Hung my clothes on a willow37 And plunged.38 As I played there, churning the surface,39 To and fro, diving to the bottom,40 Swimming on my back, my side, my belly,41 I felt a strange stir bulge in the current---42 It scared me so badly43 I scrambled up on to the bank.44 A voice came after me:45 "Why leave in such a hurry, Arethusa?"46 It was Alpheus, in the swirl of his waters.47 "Why leave in such a hurry?" he cried again.48 I saw my clothes on the willow across the river.49 I had come out on the wrong bank.50 Naked as I was, I just ran---51 That brought him after me52 All the more eagerly---my nakedness53 Though it was no invitation54 Gave his assault no option.55 I was like the dove in a panic56 Dodging through trees when the hawk57 Rides its slipstream58 Tight as a magnet.

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59 'The peak of Orchomenus went past,60 And Psophis---61 They were stepping stones62 That my feet barely touched. Then Cyllene63 And the knapped, flinty ridges64 Of Maenalus, Erymanthus, and Elis---65 The map rolled under me66 As in a flight in a dream. He could not67 Overtake me68 But he could outlast me.69 Over savannahs, mountains black with forest,70 Pathless crags and gorges. But soon


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71 The sun pressed on my back and I saw72 That I ran in a long and leaping shadow---73 The very shape of my terror---74 And I heard the stones flying75 From his striding feet, and his panting breath76 That seemed to tug at my hair.

77 'In an agony of effort78 I called to Diana:79 "Help, or it's all over with me.80 Remember how I carried your bow,81 Your quiverful of arrows. Help me,82 Help me, Oh help me."

83 'The goddess heard and was stirred.84 She brought up a dense mist85 And hid me.86 I smothered my gasping lungs. I tried87 To muffle my heartbeat. And I froze.88 I could hear the river-god, Alpheus,89 Blindly casting about---

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90 Twice he almost trod on me91 Where I crouched under deep weeds.92 "Arethusa!" he kept shouting, "Arethusa!"93 As if I would answer!94 You can imagine what I was feeling---95 What the lamb feels when the wolf's jaws96 Are ripping the edge of the shed door.97 Or what the hare feels98 Peering through the wall of grass blades99 When the circling hounds lift their noses.100 But Alpheus persisted.101 Circling the clump of mist, he could see clearly102 My track that had gone in had not come out.103 When I understood this104 A sudden sweat chilled my whole body.105 It streamed from me.106 It welled from my hair. It puddled under my feet.107 In the time it takes to tell you this108 I had become a spring, a brisk stream,109 A river, flowing away down the hillside.


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110 But the river-god recognised me.111 And he too dissolved his human shape,112 Poured himself into his true nature113 And mingled his current with my current.

114 'But Diana helped me again. She split earth open.115 I dived into the gorge116 And underground I came to Ortygia---117 This land,118 Which bears the name of my own beloved goddess,119 Brought me back to light. That is my story.'

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Tiresias

1 One time, Jupiter, happy to be idle,2 Swept the cosmic mystery aside3 And draining another goblet of ambrosia4 Teased Juno, who drowsed in bliss beside him:5 'This love of male and female's a strange business.6 Fifty-fifty investment in the madness,7 Yet she ends up with nine-tenths of the pleasure.'

8 Juno's answer was: 'A man might think so.9 It needs more than a mushroom in your cup10 To wake a wisdom that can fathom which11 Enjoys the deeper pleasure, man or woman.12 It needs the solid knowledge of a soul13 Who having lived and loved in woman's body14 Has also lived and loved in the body of a man.'

15 Jupiter laughed aloud: 'We have the answer.16 There is a fellow called Tiresias.17 Strolling to watch the birds and hear the bees18 He came across two serpents copulating.19 He took the opportunity to kill20 Both with a single blow, but merely hurt them---21 And found himself transformed into a woman.


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22 'After the seventh year of womanhood,23 Strolling to ponder on what women ponder24 She saw in that same place the same two serpents25 Knotted as before in copulation.26 "If your pain can still change your attacker

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27 Just as you once changed me, then change me back."28 She hit the couple with a handy stick,

29 'And there he stood as male as any man.'30 'He'll explain,' cried Juno, 'why you are31 Slave to your irresistible addiction32 While the poor nymphs you force to share it with you33 Do all they can to shun it.' Jupiter34 Asked Tiresias: 'In their act of love35 Who takes the greater pleasure, man or woman?'

36 'Woman,' replied Tiresias, 'takes nine-tenths.'37 Juno was so angry---angrier38 Than is easily understandable---39 She struck Tiresias and blinded him.40 'You've seen your last pretty snake, for ever.'41 But Jove consoled him: 'That same blow,' he said,42 'Has opened your inner eye, like a nightscope. See:

43 'The secrets of the future---they are yours.'

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Echo and Narcissus

1 When the prophetic vision awoke2 Behind the blind eyes of Tiresias3 And stared into the future,

4 The first to test how deeply he saw5 And how lucidly


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6 Was Liriope, a swarthy nymph of the fountain.

7 She was swept off her feet by the river Cephisus8 Who rolled her into the bed of a dark pool,9 Then cast her up on the shingle pregnant.

10 The boy she bore, even in his cradle,11 Had a beauty that broke hearts.12 She named this child Narcissus. Gossips

13 Came to Tiresias: 'Can her boy live long14 With such perfect beauty?' The seer replied:15 'Yes, unless he learns to know himself.'

16 All regarded these words as a riddle---17 Till time solved them with a strange madness.18 A stranger death completed the explanation.

19 In his sixteenth year Narcissus,20 Still a slender boy but already a man,21 Infatuated many. His beauty had flowered,

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22 But something glassy about it, a pride,23 Kept all his admirers at a distance.24 None dared be familiar, let alone touch him.

25 A day came, out on the mountain26 Narcissus was driving and netting and killing the deer27 When Echo saw him.

28 Echo who cannot be silent29 When another speaks. Echo who cannot30 Speak at all31 Unless another has spoken.32 Echo, who always answers back.

33 In those days, this nymph was more than a voice.34 She had a pretty body.35 But her prattle was the same---36 Never anything more37 Than the last word or two, the tail end


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38 Of what she heard uttered by others,39 Which she repeated over and over.

40 Juno had stricken her41 With this odd affliction.42 When Juno, following a tip-off,43 Would be stalking Jupiter, to catch him44 In some dell, with a nymph,45 Echo made it her duty46 To engage the goddess in an unending47 Rigmarole of chatter. Till the nymph48 Had pleased the god enough49 To be let go.50 Echo did this so often,

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51 And so artfully, Juno52 In a rage turned on her: 'Your tongue53 Has led me in such circles,54 Henceforth55 It will have to trail56 Helplessly after others, uttering57 Only the last words, helplessly,58 Of what you last heard.'

59 The moment Echo saw Narcissus60 She was in love. She followed him61 Like a starving wolf62 Following a stag too strong to be tackled.63 And like a cat in winter at a fire64 She could not edge close enough65 To what singed her, and would burn her.66 She almost burst67 With longing to call out to him and somehow68 Let him know what she felt.69 But she had to wait70 For some other to speak71 So she could snatch their last words72 With whatever sense they might lend her.

73 It so happened, Narcissus74 Had strayed apart75 From his companions.


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76 He hallooed them: 'Where are you?77 I'm here.' And Echo78 Caught at the syllables as if they were precious:79 'I'm here,' she cried, 'I'm here' and 'I'm here' and 'I'm here.'

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80 Narcissus looked around wildly.81 'I'll stay here,' he shouted.82 'You come to me.' And 'Come to me,'83 Shouted Echo. 'Come to me,84 To me, to me, to me.'85 Narcissus stood baffled,86 Whether to stay or go. He began to run,87 Calling as he ran: 'Stay there.' But Echo88 Cried back, weeping to utter it, 'Stay there,89 Stay there, stay there, stay there.'90 Narcissus stopped and listened. Then, more quietly,91 'Let's meet halfway. Come.' And Echo92 Eagerly repeated it: 'Come.'

93 But when she emerged from the undergrowth94 Her expression pleading,95 Her arms raised to embrace him,96 Narcissus turned and ran.97 'No,' he cried 'no, I would sooner be dead98 Than let you touch me.' Echo collapsed in sobs,99 As her voice lurched among the mountains:100 'Touch me, touch me, touch me, touch me.'

101 Echo moped under the leaves.102 Humiliated, she hid103 In the deep woods. From that day104 Like a hurt lynx, for her105 Any cave was a good home.106 But love was fixed in her body107 Like a barbed arrow. There it festered108 With his rejection. Sleeplessly109 She brooded over the pain,110 Wasting away as she suffered,

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111 The petal of her beauty112 Fading and shrivelling, falling from her---113 Leaving her voice and bones.114 Her bones, they say, turned115 Into stone, sinking into the humus.116 Her voice roamed off by itself,117 Unseen in the forest, unseen118 On the empty mountainside---119 Though all could hear it120 Living the only life left to Echo.

121 Narcissus had rebuffed her adoration122 As he had the passionate attentions123 Of many another nymph of the wilderness124 And many another man.125 One of these, mocked and rejected,126 Lifted his hands to heaven:127 'Let Narcissus love and suffer128 As he has made us suffer.129 Let him, like us, love and know it is hopeless.130 And let him, like Echo, perish of anguish.'131 Nemesis, the corrector,132 Heard this prayer and granted it.

133 There was a pool of perfect water.134 No shepherd had ever driven sheep135 To trample the margins. No cattle136 Had slobbered their muzzles in it137 And befouled it. No wild beast138 Had ever dashed through it.139 No bird had ever paddled there preening and bathing.140 Only surrounding grasses drank its moisture

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141 And though the arching trees kept it cool142 No twigs rotted in it, and no leaves.

143 Weary with hunting and the hot sun144 Narcissus found this pool.145 Gratefully he stretched out full length,146 To cup his hands in the clear cold147 And to drink. But as he drank


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148 A strange new thirst, a craving, unfamiliar,149 Entered his body with the water,150 And entered his eyes151 With the reflection in the limpid mirror.152 He could not believe the beauty153 Of those eyes that gazed into his own.154 As the taste of water flooded him155 So did love. So he lay, mistaking156 That picture of himself on the meniscus157 For the stranger who could make him happy.

158 He lay, like a fallen garden statue,159 Gaze fixed on his image in the water,160 Comparing it to Bacchus or Apollo,161 Falling deeper and deeper in love162 With what so many had loved so hopelessly.163 Not recognising himself164 He wanted only himself. He had chosen165 From all the faces he had ever seen166 Only his own. He was himself167 The torturer who now began his torture.

168 He plunged his arms deep to embrace169 One who vanished in agitated water.170 Again and again he kissed

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171 The lips that seemed to be rising to kiss his172 But dissolved, as he touched them,173 Into a soft splash and a shiver of ripples.174 How could he clasp and caress his own reflection?175 And still he could not comprehend176 What the deception was, what the delusion.177 He simply became more excited by it.178 Poor misguided boy! Why clutch so vainly179 At such a brittle figment? What you hope180 To lay hold of has no existence.181 Look away and what you love is nowhere.182 This is your own shadow.183 It comes with you. While you stay it stays.184 So it will go185 When you go---if ever you can go.


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186 He could not go.187 He wanted neither to eat nor to sleep.188 Only to lie there---eyes insatiably189 Gazing into the eyes that were no eyes.190 This is how his own eyes destroyed him.

191 He sat up, and lifting his arms192 Called to the forest: 'You trees,193 Was there ever a love194 As cruel as mine is to me?195 You aged voyeurs, you eavesdroppers,196 Among all the lovers who have hidden197 Under your listening leaves198 Was there ever a love199 As futureless as mine?200 What I love is untouchable.201 We are kept apart

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202 Neither by seas nor mountains203 Nor the locked-up gates of cities.204 Nothing at all comes between us---205 Only the skin of water.206 He wants my love as I want his.207 As I lean to kiss him208 He lifts up his face to kiss me---209 Why can't I reach him? Why can't he reach me?210 In that very touch of the kiss211 We vanish from each other---he vanishes212 Into the skin of water.

213 'Who are you? Come out. Come up214 Onto the land. I never saw beauty215 To compare with yours. Oh why do you always216 Dodge away at the last moment217 And leave me with my arms full of nothing218 But water and the memory of an image.219 It cannot be my ugliness220 Or my age that repels you,221 If all the nymphs are so crazy about me.222 Your face is full of love223 As your eyes look into my eyes224 I see it, and my hope shakes me.


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225 I stretch my arms to you, you stretch yours226 As eagerly to me. You laugh when I laugh.227 I have watched your tears through my tears.228 When I tell you my love I see your lips229 Seeming to tell me yours---though I cannot hear it.

230 'You are me. Now I see that.231 I see through my own reflection.232 But it is too late.

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233 I am in love with myself.234 I torture myself. What am I doing---235 Loving or being loved?236 What can my courtship gain?237 What I want, I am.238 But being all that I long for---239 That is my destitution.240 Why can't I get apart from my body?241 This is a new kind of lover's prayer.242 To wish himself apart from the one he loves.

243 'This impotent grief244 Is taking my strength245 And my life.246 My beauty is in full bloom---247 But I am a cut flower.248 Let death come quickly---249 Carry me off250 Where this pain251 Can never follow.252 The one I loved should be let live---253 He should live on after me, blameless.254 But when I go---both of us go.'

255 Then Narcissus wept into the pool.256 His tears shattered the still shrine257 And his image blurred.258 He cried after it: 'Don't leave me.259 If I cannot touch you at least let me see you.260 Let me nourish my starving, luckless love---261 If only by looking.'262 Then he ripped off his shirt,


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263 And beat his bare chest with white fists.

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264 The skin flushed under the blows.265 When Narcissus saw this266 In the image returned to perfection267 Where the pool had calmed---268 It was too much for him.269 Like wax near the flame,270 Or like hoar-frost271 Where the first ray of the morning sun272 Creeps across it,273 He melted---consumed274 By his love.275 Like Echo's the petal of his beauty276 Faded, shrivelled, fell---277 He disappeared from his own eyes.278 Till nothing remained of the body279 That had driven Echo to distraction.

280 Echo was watching all this misery.281 Remembering how it happened before282 To her, when he ran from her,283 Her anger blazed284 But her pity smothered it.285 And when he moaned, 'Alas,' she wept,286 And groaned. 'Alas.' His last words,287 As he gazed into the dark pool,288 'Farewell, you incomparable boy,289 I have loved you in vain'290 Returned from her lips with sorrow doubled:291 'I have loved you in vain.'292 And after his last 'Farewell'293 Came her last 'Farewell.'294 He pillowed his head on the grass.

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295 So finally death296 Closed the eyes that had loved themselves too much.

297 When he entered the Land of the Dead


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298 Narcissus could not resist it---299 He ran straight to the banks of the Styx300 And gazed down at the smear of his shadow301 Trembling on the fearful current.302 His sisters, the nymphs of the fountains,303 Cropped their hair and mourned him304 In a lamenting song---and far off,305 Wandering heartbroken among the hills306 Echo sang the refrain.

307 When men came with timber308 To build a pyre, and with crackling torches309 For the solemnity310 That would reduce Narcissus311 To a handful of dust in an urn---312 No corpse could be found.313 But there, in the pressed grass where he had perished,314 A tall flower stood unbroken---315 Bowed, a ruff of white petals316 Round a dainty bugle centre317 Yellow as egg yolk.

318 Yes, it was this quiet woodland flower319 Trumpeted the fame of Tiresias320 Throughout Achaia.

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Erisychthon

1 Some are transformed just once2 And live their whole lives after in that shape.3 Others have a facility4 For changing themselves as they please.

5 Proteus, who haunts the shadowy seas6 That scarf this earth, is glimpsed as a young man7 Who becomes of a sudden a lion8 That becomes a wild boar ripping the ground,


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9 Yet flows forward, hidden, through grass, without sound10 As a serpent, that emerges11 As a towering bull under down-bent horns,12 Or hides, among stones, a simple stone.

13 Or stands as a tree alone.14 Or liquefies, and collapses, shapeless,15 Into water, a pouring river. Sometimes16 He is the river's opposite---fire.

17 Another with a similar power18 Was Erisychthon's daughter,19 The wife of Autolycus. Her father20 Gave to the gods nothing but mockery.

21 Without a qualm he cut down every tree22 In the sacred grove of Ceres---

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23 An ancient wood that had never, before that day,24 Jumped to the axe's stroke.

25 Among those trees26 One prodigious oak was all to itself27 A tangled forest. Its boughs were bedecked with wreaths28 And votive tributes---each for a prayer

29 Ceres had some time granted. Dryads there30 Danced a holy circle around its bole31 Or joined hands to embrace it---32 A circumference of twenty paces.

33 Erisychthon ignores all this as34 He assesses the volume of its timber,35 Then orders his men to fell it.36 Seeing their reluctance, he roars:

37 'If this tree were your deity, that every clown adores,38 And not merely a tree you think she favours,39 Nevertheless, those twigs away there at the top40 Would have to come down now, as the rest falls.'

41 He snatches an axe---and hauls


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42 The weight of the broad head up and back.43 But in that moment, as the blade hangs44 Poised for the first downstroke, shudderings

45 Swarm through the whole tree, to its outermost twigs46 And a groan bursts out of the deep grain.47 At the same time48 Every bough goes grey---every leaf

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49 Whitens, and every acorn whitens.50 Then the blade bites and the blood leaps51 As from the neck of a great bull when it drops52 Under the axe at the altar.

53 Everybody stares paralysed.54 Only one man protests. The Thessalian55 Erisychthon turns with eyes stretched56 Incredulous. 'Your pious cares,' he bellows,

57 'Are misplaced.' And he follows58 That first swing at the oak with another59 At the protester's neck, whose head60 Spins through the air and bounces.

61 Then the oak, as he turns back to it, pronounces,62 In a clear voice, these words:63 'I live in this tree. I am a nymph,64 Beloved by Ceres, the goddess.

65 'With my last breath, I curse you. As this oak66 Falls on the earth, your punishment67 Will come down on you with all its weight.68 That is my consolation. And your fate.'

69 Erisychthon ignored her. He just kept going,70 Undercutting the huge trunk, till ropes71 Brought the whole mass down, jolting the earth,72 Devastating the underbrush around it.

73 All the nymphs of the sacred grove mourned it.74 Dressed in black, they came to Ceres,


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[Page 88 ]

75 Crying for the criminal to be punished,76 Bewailing the desecration. The goddess listened.

77 Then the summer farms, the orchards, the vineyards,78 The whole flushed, ripening harvest, shivered79 As she pondered how to make his death80 A parable of her anger.

81 If his cruelty, greed, arrogance82 Had left him a single drop of human feeling83 What the goddess did now84 Would have drained mankind of its pity.

85 She condemned him86 To Hunger---87 But infinite, insatiable Hunger,88 The agony of Hunger as a frenzy.

89 Destiny has separated Hunger90 So far from the goddess of abundance91 They can never meet, therefore Ceres92 Commissioned a mountain spirit, an oread:

93 'Hear what I say and do not be afraid.94 Far away to the north of Scythia95 Lies a barren country, leafless, dreadful:96 Ice permanent as iron, air that aches.

97 'A howling land of rocks, gales and snow.98 There mad Hunger staggers. Go. Bid Hunger99 Take possession of Erisychthon's belly.100 Tell her she has power over all my powers

[Page 89 ]

101 'To nourish Erisychthon. Let all I pour102 Or push down this fool's gullet only deepen103 His emptiness. Go. My dragon-drawn chariot104 Will make the terrific journey seem slight.'


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105 The nymph climbed away and her first halt106 Was the top of Caucasus.107 She soon found Hunger raking with her nails108 To bare the root of a tiny rock-wort

109 Till her teeth could catch and tear it.110 In shape and colour her face was a skull, blueish.111 Her lips a stretched hole of frayed leather112 Over bleeding teeth. Her skin

113 So glossy and so thin114 You could see the internal organs through it.115 Her pelvic bone was like a bare bone.116 The stump wings of her hip bones splayed open.

117 As she bowed, her rib-cage swung from her backbone118 In a varnish of tissue. Her ankle joints119 And her knee joints were huge bulbs, ponderous, grotesque,120 On her spindly shanks. The oread

121 Knew danger when she saw it. She proclaimed122 The command of the goddess from a safe distance,123 The whole speech only took a minute or so---124 Yet a swoon of hunger left her trembling.

125 She got away fast.126 All the way back to Thessaly

[Page 90 ]

127 She gave the dragons their head.128 Now hear me.

129 Though Hunger lives only in opposition130 To Ceres, yet she obeys her. She soars through darkness131 Across the earth, to the house of Erisychthon132 And bends above the pillow where his face

133 Snores with open mouth.134 Her skeletal embrace goes around him.135 Her shrunk mouth clamps over his mouth136 And she breathes


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137 Into every channel of his body138 A hurricane of starvation.139 The job done, she vanishes,140 She hurtles away, out of the lands of plenty,

141 As if sucked back142 Into the vacuum---143 Deprivation's hollow territories144 That belong to her, and that she belongs to.

145 Erisychthon snores on---146 But in spite of the god of sleep's efforts147 To comfort him, he dreams he sits at a banquet148 Where the food tastes of nothing. A nightmare.

149 He grinds his molars on air, with a dry creaking,150 Dreaming that he grinds between his molars151 A feast of nothing, food that is like air.152 At last he writhes awake in twisting, knotted

[Page 91 ]

153 Cramps of hunger. His jaws154 Seem to have their own life, snapping at air155 With uncontrollable eagerness to be biting156 Into food and swallowing---like a cat

157 Staring at a bird out of reach.158 His stomach feels like a fist159 Gripping and wringing out160 The mere idea of food.

161 He calls for food. Everything edible162 Out of the sea and earth. When it comes163 Dearth is all he sees where tables bend164 Under the spilling plenty. Emptying

165 Bowls of heaped food, all he craves for166 Is bigger bowls heaped higher. Food167 For a whole city cannot sate him. Food168 For a whole nation leaves him faint with hunger.

169 As every river on earth


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170 Pours its wealth towards ocean171 That is always sweeping for more,172 Draining the continents,

173 And as fire grows hungrier174 The more fuel it finds175 So, famished by food,176 The gullet of Erisychthon, gulping down

177 Whatever its diameter can manage178 Through every waking moment,

[Page 92 ]

179 Spares a mouthful180 Only to shout for more.

181 This voracity, this bottomless belly,182 As if his throat opened183 Into the void of stars,184 Engulfed his entire wealth.

185 His every possession was converted186 To what he could devour187 Till nothing remained except a daughter.188 This only child deserved a better father.

189 His last chattel, he cashed her in for food.190 He sold her, at the market.191 But she was far too spirited192 To stay as a bought slave.

193 Stretching her arms towards the sea, she cried:194 'You who ravished my maidenhead, save me.'195 Neptune knew the voice of his pretty victim196 And granted the prayer. Her new owner,

197 Who minutes ago was admiring the girl he had bought,198 Now saw only Neptune's art---featured199 And clothed like a fisherman. Perplexed,200 He spoke to this stranger directly.

201 'You with your fishing tackle, hiding your barbs202 In tiny gobbets of bait---may you have good weather


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203 And plenty of silly fish that never notice204 The hook till it's caught them!---Can you tell me

[Page 93 ]

205 'Where is the girl who was here a moment ago?206 Her hair loose, and dressed in the cheapest things,207 She was standing right here where her footprints---208 Look---stop, and go no further. Where is she?'

209 The girl guessed what the god had done for her.210 She smiled to hear herself asked where she might be.211 Then to the man parted from his money:212 'I'm sorry, my attention has been fixed

213 'On the fish in this hole. But I promise you,214 By all the help I pray for from Neptune,215 Nobody has come along this beach216 For quite a while---and certainly no woman.'

217 The buyer had to believe her. He went off, baffled.218 The girl took one step and was back219 In her own shape. Next thing,220 She was telling her father. And he,

221 Elated, saw business. After that222 On every market he sold her in some new shape.223 A trader bought a horse,224 Paid for it and found the halter empty

225 Where a girl sat selling mushrooms.226 A costly parrot escaped its purchaser227 Into an orchard---where a girl picked figs.228 One bought an ox that vanished from its pasture

229 Where a girl gathered cowslips.230 So Erisychthon's daughter plied her talent

[Page 94 ]

231 For taking any shape to cheat a buyer---232 Straight and crooked alike.


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233 All to feed the famine in her father.234 But none of it was enough. Whatever he ate235 Maddened and tormented that hunger236 To angrier, uglier life. The life

237 Of a monster no longer a man. And so,238 At last, the inevitable.239 He began to savage his own limbs.240 And there, at a final feast, devoured himself.

[Page 95 ]

Semele

1 Juno was incensed when she learned it:2 Jove had impregnated Semele.3 Curses4 Came bursting out of her throat, but she swallowed them5 Hissing: 'Anger is lost on Jupiter. Only

6 'Let me get my hands on that woman.7 As sure as I am Juno, the Queen of Heaven,8 As sure as I grasp the sceptre9 And am Jove's wife and sister,10 As sure as I am at very least his sister,

11 'I shall destroy that whore.12 Let others excuse her. They say she takes nothing13 If this taste of his love is all she takes.14 They say she's no more trespassed on my marriage15 Than a cloud-shadow crossing a mountain.

16 'They should know the fact.17 His brat is in her womb.18 And that is a kind of marriage---19 Durable as the life of that creature.20 Jupiter's own child---out of her womb!

21 'More than I ever gave him.


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22 A splendid-looking woman---23 And so pleased with herself, to be so splendid.

[Page 96 ]

24 Her pleasure is a delusion.25 Her beauty comes at a cost, she will find.

26 'I am not the daughter of Saturn27 If she does not stumble very soon28 Headlong into hell's horrible river,29 Pushed there and shoved under30 By the loving caresses of none other

31 'Than her darling, the high god Jupiter.'32 Juno rose from her throne33 Like a puff of smoke from a volcano.34 In a globe of whirling light35 She arrived at the home of Semele.

36 Semele37 Looked up at a shadow. There,38 Standing on her threshold, a gummy old woman---39 White wisps,40 A sack of shrivelled skin propped on a stick,

41 Bent as if broken-backed,42 Tottering at each step to stay upright,43 And her voice44 Quavering like a dying pulse. This figure45 Was the very double of Beroe---

46 Semele's old nurse from Epidaurus.47 Semele recognised and welcomed48 Her old nurse. She never doubted a moment.49 Their gossiping began to circle,50 Touching at Semele's swollen belly.

[Page 97 ]

51 Juno sighed. Her lizard throat trembled.52 'Ah, I pray you are right.


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53 I pray that Jupiter is the sire, as you say.54 But who can be sure?55 Something about it smells fishy to me.

56 'You wouldn't be the first simple virgin57 To hear an unscrupulous seducer58 Reveal his greatest secret---that he is a god.59 Even if he spoke the truth and you are right---60 Even if the babe in your womb is Jove's---

61 'Supposition will not satisfy62 The questions63 That will surely occur to the coming child.64 That child65 Is going to demand real proof.

66 'Jupiter should give you real proof67 That he is himself. Ask him to face you68 Naked as for Juno in heaven,69 In all his omnipotence and glory,70 The great god of the triple-headed sceptre.'

71 Listening to the twisty words of Juno72 Semele heard73 Only the purest wisdom.74 She asked her divine lover for a love-gift---75 A gift she would name only if it were granted.

76 Jupiter smiled: 'Whatever you want---name it,77 You shall have it. I swear78 on the terror who holds all heaven in awe,

[Page 98 ]

79 The god of hell's river, you shall have it.'80 Semele's laugh was as triumphant

81 As she was ignorant82 Of the game she was playing.83 She laughed84 To have won the simple trick85 That would wipe her out of existence

86 So easily. 'I want to see you,' she said,


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87 'Exactly as Juno sees you when she opens88 Her arms and body to you. As if I were Juno,89 Come to me naked---in your divine form.'90 Too late

91 Jove guessed what she was asking.92 He tried to gag her93 With his hand but her tongue94 And her lips had hurried it all out95 And he had heard it. He groaned.

96 His oath could no more be retracted97 Than her words could be unuttered.98 Yes, God wept a little99 Gathering the foggy clouds around him100 As he withdrew into heaven.

101 Now he piled above him the purple102 Topheavy thunderheads103 Churning with tornadoes104 And inescapable bolts of lightning.105 Yet he did what he could to insulate

[Page 99 ]

106 And filter107 The nuclear blast108 Of his naked impact---109 Such as had demolished Typhoeus110 And scattered his hundred hands.

111 He chose112 A slighter manifestation113 Fashioned, like the great bolts, by the Cyclops114 But more versatile---known in heaven115 As the general deterrent.

116 Arrayed in this fashion117 Jove came to the house of Cadmus' daughter.118 He entered her bedchamber,119 But as he bent over her sleeping face120 To kiss her


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121 Her eyes opened wide, saw him122 And burst into flame.123 Then her whole body lit up124 With the glare125 That explodes the lamp---

126 In that splinter of a second,127 Before her blazing shape128 Became a silhouette of sooty ashes129 The foetus was snatched from her womb.130 If this is a true story

131 That babe was then inserted surgically132 Into a makeshift uterus, in Jove's thigh,133 To be born, at full term, not from his mother

[Page 100 ]

134 But from his father---reborn. Son of the Father.135 And this was the twice-born god---the god Bacchus.

[Page 101 ]

Peleus and Thetis

1 Proteus, old as the ocean,2 Said to Thetis: 'Goddess3 Of all the salt waters,4 When you bear a son the boy will be5 The wonder of the world.6 He will make a man of himself7 So far superior to his father8 His father's fame will be---to have been his father.9 Jupiter heard the prophecy just in time10 To deflect his lust11 From the maidenhead of Thetis.12 He switched it13 To the next on his list. But as a precaution,14 Too well aware of his own frailty,


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15 He sent a substitute to neutralise16 The prize of the prediction and its sequel:17 Peleus, his grandson, son of Aeacus.18 'Go,' he commanded. 'No matter what it takes19 To bring it about, impregnate that virgin.'

20 Tucked into Hamonia's coast is a bay21 Between promontories, deep incurved,22 Like a sickle.23 A perfect harbour if only the water were deeper.24 But the sea sweeps in25 Barely covering a plain of pale sand.26 The beach is perfect,27 No seaweed, and the sand28 Powdery light, yet firm to the foot.

[Page 102 ]

29 The hanging bulge of the land is plumped with myrtles.30 Beneath those leaves a cave climbs from the sea.31 It looks like the work of man. But a deity used it.32 This was the secret bedchamber of Thetis.33 Naked, she surfed in on a dolphin34 To sleep there. And there Peleus found her.

35 He woke her with a kiss.36 First she was astonished, then furious.37 He applied all his cunning to seduce her.38 He exhausted his resources. None of it worked.39 His every soft word hardened her colder.40 If they had been two cats, he was thinking,41 She would have been flattened to the wall,42 Her mask fixed in a snarl, spitting at him.43 He took his cue from that. Where argument44 Fails, violence follows. His strength45 Could have trussed her up like a chicken46 If she had stayed the woman he woke with a kiss.47 But before he knew48 He was grappling with an enormous sea-bird,49 Its body powerful as a seal, and its beak50 Spiking his skull like a claw-hammer.51 A bird that was suddenly a wren52 Escaping towards the tangle of myrtles,53 Bolting past his cheek like a shuttlecock


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54 That he caught with a snatch of pure luck,55 And found himself56 Gripping a tigress by the shag of her throat57 As her paw hit him with the impact58 Of a fifty-kilo lump of snaggy bronze59 Dropped from a battlement.

[Page 103 ]

60 He rolled from the cave and landed flat on his back61 in cushioning shallow water.

62 Then he slaughtered sheep,63 Burned their entrails, heaped incense64 Onto the fatty blaze, poured wine65 Into the salt wash and called on the sea-gods,66 Till a shade, from the depth-gloom beyond,67 Darkened into the bay's lit shallows,68 And a voice hissed from the tongues of suds69 That shot up the sand: 'Son of Aeacus,70 This woman can be yours if you can catch her71 Sleeping as before in her cavern.72 But this time, bind her, bind her tight with thongs,73 Before she wakes. Then hang on to her body74 No matter what it becomes, no matter what monster.75 Do not let her scare you---76 However she transforms herself, it is her,77 Dodging from shape to shape, through a hundred shapes.78 Hang on79 Till her counterfeit selves are all used up,80 And she reappears as Thetis.'81 This was the voice of Proteus. It ceased82 And the long shape faded from the shallows.

83 Peleus hid in the myrtles. Towards sundown84 The goddess came up from the deep water,85 Rode into the bay, climbed into her cave86 And stretched out on her couch.

87 She was hardly asleep88 When the noosed thongs jerked tight.89 Her ankles and her wrists made one bunch.

[Page 104 ]


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90 Her feet and hands were a single squirming cluster,91 As if she were to be carried, slung from a pole,92 Like an animal.

93 Peleus clinched his knot, then bundled her up94 In his arms, and embraced her with all his might95 As her shapes began to fight for her.96 He shut his eyes and hung on, ignoring97 Her frenzy of transformations98 Till they shuddered to stillness. She knew she was beaten99 By that relentless grip. 'Heaven has helped you,'100 She panted. 'Only heaven101 Could have given me to you, and made me yours.'

102 Then he undid her bonds. As he massaged103 The circulation into her hands and feet104 His caresses included her whole body.105 She was content to let them take possession106 Of her skin, her heart, and, at last, of her womb107 Where now he planted Achilles.

[Page 105 ]

Actaeon

1 Destiny, not guilt, was enough2 For Actaeon. It is no crime3 To lose your way in a dark wood.

4 It happened on a mountain where hunters5 Had slaughtered so many animals6 The slopes were patched red with the butchering places.

7 When shadows were shortest and the sun's heat hardest8 Young Actaeon called a halt:9 'We have killed more than enough for the day.

10 'Our nets are stiff with blood,


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11 Our spears are caked, and our knives12 Are clogged in their sheaths with the blood of a glorious hunt.

13 'Let's be up again in the grey dawn---14 Back to the game afresh. This noon heat15 Has baked the stones too hot for a human foot.'

16 All concurred. And the hunt was over for the day.17 A deep cleft at the bottom of the mountain18 Dark with matted pine and spiky cypress

19 Was known as Gargaphie, sacred to Diana,20 Goddess of the hunt.21 In the depths of this goyle was the mouth of a cavern

[Page 106 ]

22 That might have been carved out with deliberate art23 From the soft volcanic rock.24 It half-hid a broad pool, perpetually shaken

25 By a waterfall inside the mountain,26 Noisy but hidden. Often to that grotto,27 Aching and burning from her hunting,

28 Diana came29 To cool the naked beauty she hid from the world.30 All her nymphs would attend her.

31 One held her javelin,32 Her quiverful of arrows and her unstrung bow.33 Another folded her cape.

34 Two others took off her sandals, while Crocale35 The daughter of Ismenus36 Whose hands were the most artful, combing out

37 The goddess' long hair, that the hunt had tangled,38 Bunched it into a thick knot,39 Though her own hair stayed as the hunt had scattered it.

40 Five others, Nephele, Hyale, Phiale41 Psecas and Rhanis, filled great jars with water


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42 And sluiced it over Diana's head and shoulders.

43 The goddess was there, in her secret pool,44 Naked and bowed45 Under those cascades from the mouths of jars

[Page 107 ]

46 In the fastness of Gargaphie, when Actaeon,47 Making a beeline home from the hunt48 Stumbled on this gorge. Surprised to find it,

49 He pushed into it, apprehensive, but50 Steered by a pitiless fate---whose nudgings he felt51 Only as surges of curiosity.

52 So he came to the clearing. And saw ripples53 Flocking across the pool out of the cavern.54 He edged into the cavern, under ferns

55 That dripped with spray. He peered56 Into the gloom to see the waterfall---57 But what he saw were nymphs, their wild faces

58 Screaming at him in a commotion of water.59 And as his eyes adjusted, he saw they were naked,60 Beating their breasts as they screamed at him.

61 And he saw they were crowding together62 To hide something from him. He stared harder.63 Those nymphs could not conceal Diana's whiteness,

64 The tallest barely reached her navel. Actaeon65 Stared at the goddess, who stared at him.66 She twisted her breasts away, showing him her back.

67 Glaring at him over her shoulder68 She blushed like a dawn cloud69 In that twilit grotto of winking reflections,

[Page 108 ]


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70 And raged for a weapon---for her arrows71 To drive through his body.72 No weapon was to hand---only water.

73 So she scooped up a handful and dashed it74 Into his astonished eyes, as she shouted:75 'Now, if you can, tell how you saw me naked.'

76 That was all she said, but as she said it77 Out of his forehead burst a rack of antlers.78 His neck lengthened, narrowed, and his ears

79 Folded to whiskery points, his hands were hooves,80 His arms long slender legs. His hunter's tunic81 Slid from his dappled hide. With all this

82 The goddess83 Poured a shocking stream of panic terror84 Through his heart like blood. Actaeon

85 Bounded out across the cave's pool86 In plunging leaps, amazed at his own lightness.87 And there

88 Clear in the bulging mirror of his bow-wave89 He glimpsed his antlered head,90 And cried: 'What has happened to me?'

91 No words came. No sound came but a groan.92 His only voice was a groan.93 Human tears shone on his stag's face

[Page 109 ]

94 From the grief of a mind that was still human.95 He veered first this way, then that.96 Should he run away home to the royal palace?

97 Or hide in the forest? The thought of the first98 Dizzied him with shame. The thought of the second99 Flurried him with terrors.


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100 But then, as he circled, his own hounds found him.101 The first to give tongue were Melampus102 And the deep-thinking Ichnobates.

103 Melampus a Spartan, Ichnobates a Cretan.104 The whole pack piled in after.105 It was like a squall crossing a forest.

106 Dorceus, Pamphagus and Oribasus---107 Pure Arcadians. Nebrophonus,108 Strong as a wild boar, Theras, as fierce.

109 And Laelaps never far from them. Pterelas110 Swiftest in the pack, and Agre111 The keenest nose. And Hylaeus

112 Still lame from the rip of a boar's tusk.113 Nape whose mother was a wolf, and Poemenis---114 Pure sheep-dog. Harpyia with her grown pups,

115 Who still would never leave her.116 The lanky hound Ladon, from Sicyon,117 With Tigris, Dromas, Canace, Sticte and Alce,

[Page 110 ]

118 And Asbolus, all black, and all-white Leuca.119 Lacon was there, with shoulders like a lion.120 Aello, who could outrun wolves, and Thous,

121 Lycise, at her best in a tight corner,122 Her brother Cyprius, and black Harpalus123 With a white star on his forehead.

124 Lachne, like a shaggy bear-cub. Melaneus125 And the Spartan-Cretan crossbreeds126 Lebros and Agriodus. Hylactor,

127 With the high, cracked voice, and a host of others,128 Too many to name. The strung-out pack,129 Locked onto their quarry,

130 Flowed across the landscape, over crags,


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131 Over cliffs where no man could have followed,132 Through places that seemed impossible.

133 Where Actaeon had so often strained134 Every hound to catch and kill the quarry,135 Now he strained to shake the same hounds off---

136 His own hounds. He tried to cry out:137 'I am Actaeon---remember your master,'138 But his tongue lolled wordless, while the air

139 Belaboured his ears with hounds' voices.140 Suddenly three hounds appeared, ahead,141 Raving towards him. They had been last in the pack.

[Page 111 ]

142 But they had thought it out143 And made a short cut over a mountain.144 As Actaeon turned, Melanchaetes

145 The ringleader of this breakaway trio146 Grabbed a rear ankle147 In the trap of his jaws. Then the others,

148 Theridamus and Oristrophus, left and right,149 Caught a foreleg each, and he fell.150 These three pinned their master, as the pack

151 Poured onto him like an avalanche.152 Every hound filled its jaws153 Till there was hardly a mouth not gagged and crammed

154 With hair and muscle. Then began the tugging and the ripping.155 Actaeon's groan was neither human156 Nor the natural sound of a stag.

157 Now the hills he had played on so happily158 Toyed with the echoes of his death-noises.159 His head and antlers reared from the heaving pile.

160 And swayed---like the signalling arm161 Of somebody drowning in surf.


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162 But his friends, who had followed the pack

163 To this unexpected kill,164 Urged them to finish the work. Meanwhile they shouted165 For Actaeon---over and over for Actaeon

[Page 112 ]

166 To hurry and witness this last kill of the day---167 And such a magnificent beast---168 As if he were absent. He heard his name

169 And wished he were as far off as they thought him.170 He wished he was among them171 Not suffering this death but observing

172 The terrible method173 Of his murderers, as they knotted174 Muscles and ferocity to dismember

175 Their own master.176 Only when Actaeon's life177 Had been torn from his bones, to the last mouthful,

178 Only then179 Did the remorseless anger of Diana,180 Goddess of the arrow, find peace.

[Page 113 ]

Myrrha

1 Cinyras, the son of Paphos,2 Might well have been known as Fortune's darling3 If only he'd stayed childless.

4 The story I am now going to tell you5 Is so horrible


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6 That fathers with daughters, wherever you are,7 Had better not listen to it---8 I beg you to stay clear.9 Or if you find my song irresistible10 Let your ear11 Now become incredulous.12 May you convince yourselves this never happened.

13 Or if you find yourselves14 Believing this crime and horrified by it---15 You must, above all, believe16 In the punishment, the awesome punishment,17 The gods allotted to it.

18 If nature can let any person fall19 Into crimes as vile as this20 I congratulate our corner of the world---21 So lucky to lie so far22 From the soil23 That nursed this enormity.

24 Let Panchaia be praised for its balsam,25 Zedoary, cinnamon, and for the teeming

[Page 114 ]

26 Variety of its herbs, and for its abundance27 Of trees bearing incense---28 But while myrrh grows there it cannot be envied.

29 The cost of that bush was too great.30 Whatever arrow pierced the heart of Myrrha31 Cupid absolutely disowns it.32 Whatever torches kindled the flames in her body33 He denies they were his.

34 One of hell's three horrible sisters35 Brought a firebrand from the flickering tarpit36 And an armful of serpents37 Anointed with their own venom38 And took possession of her.

39 Hatred for one's father is a crime.40 Myrrha's love for her father


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41 Was a crime infinitely worse.

42 The court of King Cinyras hummed with suitors.43 From every degree of the compass they had come,44 The princes of the East---45 Haughty rivals for the King's daughter46 Who wanted nothing to do with any of them.47 Choose, Myrrha, before the story twists,48 Choose from all these men in your father's palace---49 Excluding only one.

50 Myrrha felt the stirring secret51 Serpent of her craving and the horror52 That came with it.53 'What is happening to me?' she whispered.

[Page 115 ]

54 'What am I planning?'55 She prayed to the gods: 'You watchers in heaven,56 Help me to strangle this.57 I pray58 By the sacred bond between child and parent59 Let me be spared this.60 Do not permit this criminal desire61 To carry me off---if it is criminal.62 Is it criminal?63 Is it unnatural?64 For all the creatures it is natural---65 When the bull mounts the heifer, his daughter,66 Neither feels shame.67 A stallion fights to breed from his own daughter.68 A billy goat will impregnate his daughter69 As soon as any other little nanny.70 And the birds---the birds---71 No delicate distinctions deter them.72 All mate where they can.73 How lucky they are, those innocents,74 Living within such liberties.75 Man has distorted that licence---76 Man has made new laws from his jealousy77 To deprive nature of its nature,78 Yet I have heard that nations exist79 Who make a virtue of just this---fathers


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80 Marry their daughters, mothers marry their sons---81 To keep the blood in the family,82 And give to both daughters and sons83 Possession of their deepest happiness---84 The bliss of their infancy as a wedding present.

[Page 116 ]

85 'But I was born here, not there.86 Born into the prison of this palace,87 A prisoner of these laws. What am I doing?88 Thoughts are running away with me.89 I must not let such hopes roam so freely.90 And yet, by every contract and custom,91 Cinyras owns my love.92 It would be a crime indeed to withhold it.93 And if it were not for one small accident---94 That he begat me---95 I could give him my love, as his bride.

96 'But---because I am his---he can never be mine.97 How if I were a stranger?98 I should get away,99 Get out of this land---but could I ever100 Get out of my guilt? Out of my love?101 My evil obsession keeps me here102 Where I can be near him,103 Look at him, speak to him, touch him, kiss him,104 Though that is the limit of it.105 Wretch, what more can you hope for?106 Do you want to lie netted107 In a mesh of family conundrums---108 Sister to your son,109 Co-wife to your mother, your brother's mother?110 Remember the Furies,111 The snake-haired, dreadful sisters112 Who climb from the hell of conscience113 Whirling their torches.114 Be careful. While you are still guiltless,115 Before you have set a foot wrong,116 Do not so much as think of taking

[Page 117 ]


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117 The first step. Mighty Nature118 Set this prohibition119 Between a human father and his daughter.120 Fear it.121 I know what you want. It is because122 You are who you are that you cannot have it.123 Cinyras is noble. He lives by law.124 And yet what if he fell125 Into just such agonies of love---'

126 Meanwhile127 Cinyras was wholly preoccupied128 By the superfluity of suitors.129 He saw only one solution.130 He cited their names and lands and possessions131 To his daughter---132 Then simply asked her to choose.

133 Long minutes134 Myrrha stood staring at her father.135 For her, nothing else existed.136 Her brain stormed---but to no purpose,137 While her eyes brimmed as if they melted.138 Cinyras pitied his child.139 What he saw was modesty tormented.140 He dried her face and kissed her.141 He told her not to cry---while she clung142 To his neck, half swooning at his kisses.143 And when he asked her just what kind of husband144 She wanted, she whispered: 'One like you.'145 Cinyras understood nothing. He laughed:146 'My darling, never let anything change your devotion147 To me.' When she heard that word 'devotion'

[Page 118 ]

148 Her heart broke up in her body. She stood there149 Like a beast at the altar, head hanging.

150 Midnight. Mankind sprawled151 In sleep without a care.152 But Myrrha writhed in her sheets.


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153 To cool the fiery gnawings throughout her body154 She drew deep gasping breaths.155 They made the flames worse.156 Half of her prayed wildly---157 In despair under the crushing158 Impossibility---and half of her coolly159 Plotted how to put it to the test.160 She was both aghast at her own passion161 And reckless to satisfy it.

162 Like a great tree that sways,163 All but cut through by the axe,164 Uncertain which way to fall,165 Waiting for the axe's deciding blow,166 Myrrha,167 Bewildered by the opposite onslaughts168 Of her lust and her conscience,169 Swayed, and waited to fall.170 Either way, she saw only death.171 Her lust, consummated, had to be death;172 Denied, had to be death.

173 With a huge effort174 She got up out of bed,175 Tied her girdle to a door lintel176 And made a noose.177 'Cinyras,' she sobbed. 'O my darling,

[Page 119 ]

178 When you see this, please understand it.'179 She pushed her numb, drained face180 Through the noose. But as she drew the knot181 Tight to the nape of her neck182 She fainted. The lintel jerked at her weight.

183 Her old nurse, who lay in the next room,184 Slept lightly as a sparrow.185 She found herself listening186 To the girl's despairing soliloquy.187 Instantly she was up and through the door.188 She shrieked at the suicide.189 She tugged the knot loose.190 She tore her own garments, and beat at her breasts,


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191 She laid the limp girl on the floor---

192 Then she wept---193 Embraced the girl and wept194 And asked her why she should want to do such a thing.195 Myrrha had recovered. She lay silent.196 She simply lay there197 Letting her worst moment do its worst.198 Too slow to end it all199 And then being caught in the act200 Seemed to leave her now with less than nothing.

201 But the old nurse was persistent.202 She clawed down her white hairs,203 She bared the shrivelled skins of her breasts204 And begged the girl, by this ruin205 Of the cradle of her first years,206 To tell her the secret.

[Page 120 ]

207 Myrrha moaned and twisted from the questions.

208 The nurse came in closer, determined209 To get at the truth. And she promised210 Not only to keep her secret:211 'I may be old,' she said,212 'But that may make it easier for me to help you.213 If some lunatic fit has fallen on you214 From some power in the air,215 From something you have eaten, some place you have sat in,216 I know who can cure it.217 If somebody has bewitched you, I know218 The rituals to unwind the spell and bind it219 Round the witch's neck.220 Or if you have unsettled the gods221 I know which offerings can appease them.222 What else can it be?223 Your home and future are secure.224 Your father and mother are happy, they reign in their prime.'

225 As if she had heard nothing else226 That single word 'father' went through Myrrha227 Like a hot iron, and she sighed in misery.


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228 The nurse missed that clue. But she guessed229 Love was at the bottom of it.230 So she dug away stubbornly231 Embracing and straining the girl's ripeness232 To her own withered rack.233 'I know,' she whispered at last, 'I know your sickness.234 You are in love.

[Page 121 ]

235 And I am the very one who can best help you.236 Not a breath of this shall come to your father.'

237 Again at the word 'father'238 Myrrha choked a cry.239 'Go away,' she wailed. She wrenched herself240 From the nurse's clasp241 And pitched onto her bed,242 Burying her face in pillows.243 'Leave me alone,' she sobbed.244 'Don't take the last rag of my self-respect.'

245 And when the nurse persisted: 'Stop. Don't ask.246 What you are wanting to know is pure evil.'247 The old woman recoiled.248 And now it was fear, not age, that made her tremble.

249 But more determined than ever250 She clutched Myrrha's feet in her old fingers251 Threatening to tell her father everything252 About that noose253 Unless she shared her secret. At the same time254 She promised perfect loyalty255 If she would confide it---256 Yes, and her help. She promised her help.

257 Myrrha looked up and flung her arms258 Around her old nurse. Her tears259 Splashed down the scraggy breasts.260 Now she tried to confess. But every effort261 Was stifled as she hid her face again262 And gagged herself with her robe.263 At last she managed: 'My mother is so lucky


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[Page 122 ]

264 To have such a man for her husband---'265 Then her voice was overwhelmed266 By the flood of sobs that came with it.

267 But the nurse had heard enough.268 Now she knew she had the truth269 As her white hair bushed out270 In a halo of horror271 And she felt her body go cold.272 Her slow words of caution, of wisdom,273 Dragging up274 From some rarely used depth,275 Began to admonish Myrrha.276 As if mere words could have a hope277 Of altering such a passion.278 Myrrha shook them off279 As she shook the tears from her eyes.

280 She knew281 The nurse's words were all true.282 But her passion was deaf283 As well as blind.284 And if it could not satisfy itself285 No matter what it destroyed in the act286 It was happy to die that very moment.

287 'This is great folly,' the nurse said then.288 'Death is never an option, only an error.289 Myrrha, you shall have---' Here she paused.290 Her tongue shied from the words 'your father'.291 'You shall have---I promise it, I call292 Heaven to witness, you shall have your will.'

[Page 123 ]

293 Now came the festival of Ceres.294 Married women, robed in laundered whiteness,295 Brought the goddess the first-fruits296 Of the harvest. For these women297 Through nine days and nights


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298 Love or the slightest contact with a man299 Was forbidden.

300 Cenchreis, the wife of Cinyras,301 The mother Myrrha so painfully envied,302 Was one of the celebrants303 Wrapped in the white gown of the mysteries.304 Nine days and nine nights305 The King's bed was to be empty.

306 That first evening Cinyras drowsily307 Sipping a last glass, found himself308 Listening to the nurse's strange news---309 About an incredibly beautiful girl310 Madly in love with him.311 Idly, he asked the girl's age,312 And the nurse said, 'Same as Myrrha.'313 'Bring her tonight,' said the King, with hardly a thought.

314 The nurse returned to Myrrha, jubilant---315 'Success,' she hissed. 'Success.'316 It was then, as that sharp word success317 Went past her ear318 That Myrrha felt a premonitory shiver,319 The quick touch of a shadow of terror.320 Then she let her joy lift her off her feet.

[Page 124 ]

321 The moon had gone down,322 Clouds covered the stars,323 When Myrrha, like a wide-eyed sleepwalker,324 Hypnotised by a dream of wild lust325 Stepped from her chamber---326 The heavens above gave her no light.327 Icarus had covered his face328 And Erigone, lifted to heaven by pure love of her father,329 Hid her eyes.

330 Three times331 Myrrha stumbled332 As if her very feet rebuked her.333 Three times


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334 A screech owl, death's doppelgänger ,335 The bird with the sewn-up face,336 Saluted her evil fate337 With its rasping laugh.338 But she ignored all omens,339 Finding refuge from her shame340 In the pitch darkness, that hid her almost from herself.

341 Her left hand342 Clung to the hand of her old nurse.343 Her right hand344 Groped for invisible obstacles345 As if she were blind.346 The old woman went swiftly.347 She knew the map of the palace with her eyes closed.

348 And here349 Was the door of the King's bedroom.350 The door swung wide.

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351 Suddenly Myrrha was standing352 In the dark chamber353 Where the King breathed.

354 Her legs almost went from beneath her.355 The blood drained from her face and head---356 Unrecognised, she knew357 She still had time to get out.

358 But more and more horrified by herself359 More and more sick with guilt,360 She let the old nurse361 Lead her toward the bed where the King waited.

362 'She is yours,'363 Was all the old woman whispered.364 Gently she pushed Myrrha forward365 Till she felt that reluctant, trembling body366 Lifted weightless from her367 Into the dark tent of the bed.

368 Then she crabbed away in the dark


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369 Fleeing the disaster she had created370 And that had already forgotten her.

371 The father372 Welcomed his own flesh and blood373 Into the luxury374 Of the royal bed.375 He comforted her,376 Mistaking her whimpering struggle of lust and conscience377 For girlish panic.

[Page 126 ]

378 It could be379 To soothe her he called her 'my child'380 Or even 'my daughter'381 And maybe when she called him 'father'382 He supposed that made her first yielding383 Somehow easier for her---384 So the real crime, that the King thought no crime,385 Let nothing of its wickedness be omitted.

386 After her father had crammed her with his seed387 Myrrha left him388 Finding her way now without difficulty---389 Her womb satisfied390 With its prize:391 A child conceived in evil.

392 The next night father and daughter did it again393 In the pitch darkness.394 The same, night after night. On the ninth night395 Cinyras made a mistake.396 He let curiosity take over.397 He prepared a lamp. That he lit398 And held high, as she lay there,399 Revealing the form and the face400 Of his bedmate---401 His daughter.

402 Now all the guilt was his.403 Too huge and elemental404 For words


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405 His anguish406 Was a roar throughout the palace.

[Page 127 ]

407 He snatched his sword from its scabbard.408 But Myrrha dived from his chamber409 Into the night, dodging like a bat,410 And escaped him.

411 She went on,412 Crossed her father's kingdom,413 Forsook Panchaia,414 Left Arabia's palms far behind her.

415 Till a nine-month meandering journey416 Brought her to Sabaea.417 There she rested the kicking freight418 That she could carry no further,419 Utterly disgusted with her life420 But afraid of dying.421 She had no idea what to pray for,422 So prayed without thinking:

423 'O you gods,424 If there are any gods with patience enough425 To listen to me426 Who deserve427 The most pitiless judgement428 Which I would welcome---429 I only fear that by dying430 I would pollute the dead.431 Just as my life contaminates the living.432 Give me some third way, neither wholly dead433 Nor painfully alive. Remove me434 From life and from death435 Into some nerveless limbo.'

[Page 128 ]


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Venus and Adonis (and Atalanta)

1 A power in the air hears the last prayer2 Of the desperate. Myrrha's prayer to be no part3 Of either her life or her death was heard and was answered.

4 The earth gripped both her ankles as she prayed.5 Roots forced from beneath her toenails, they burrowed6 Among deep stones to the bedrock. She swayed,

7 Living statuary on a tree's foundations.8 In that moment, her bones became grained wood,9 Their marrow pith,

10 Her blood sap, her arms boughs, her fingers twigs,11 Her skin rough bark. And already12 The gnarling crust has coffined her swollen womb.

13 It swarms over her breasts. It warps upwards14 Reaching for her eyes as she bows15 Eagerly into it, hurrying the burial

16 Of her face and her hair under thick-webbed bark.17 Now all her feeling has gone into wood, with her body.18 Yet she weeps,

19 The warm drops ooze from her rind.20 These tears are still treasured.21 To this day they are known by her name---Myrrh.

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22 Meanwhile the meaty fruit her father implanted23 Has ripened in the bole. Past its term,24 It heaves to rive a way out of its mother.

25 But Myrrha's cramps are clamped in the heart-wood's vice.26 Her gagged convulsions cannot leak a murmur.27 She cannot cry to heaven for Lucina.

28 Nevertheless a mother's agony


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29 Strained in the creaking tree and her tears drench it.30 For pity, heaven's midwife, Lucina,

31 Lays her hands on the boughs in their torment32 As she recites the necessary magic.33 The trunk erupts, the bark splits, and there tumbles

34 Out into the world with a shattering yell35 The baby Adonis. Nymphs of the flowing waters36 Cradle him in grasses. They wash him

37 With his mother's tears. Bittermost envy38 Could only glorify such a creature.39 A painter's naked Cupid to perfection---

40 The god's portrait without his arrow quiver41 Or his bow. Here, subtlest of things,42 Too swift for the human eye, time slips past.

43 And this miraculous baby of his sister,44 Sired by his grandpa, just now born of a bush,45 Barely a boy, in the blink of an eye is a man

[Page 130 ]

46 Suddenly more beautiful than ever---47 So beautiful the great Venus herself,48 Hovering over the wonder, feels awe.

49 Then the boy's mother, pent by Venus50 In that shrub of shame, finds her revenge.51 The goddess falls helplessly for Adonis.

52 Venus plucking kisses from her Cupid53 Snagged her nipple on an unnoticed arrow54 Sticking from his quiver. She pushed him away---

55 But was wounded far worse than she feared.56 Pierced by the mortal beauty of Adonis57 She has forgotten Cythera's flowery island,

58 Forgotten the bright beaches of Paphos,59 Forgotten Cnidos, delicate as its fish,


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60 Amathus, veined with costly metals. Neglected

61 Even Olympus. She abstains from heaven62 Besotted by the body of Adonis.63 Wherever he goes, clinging to him she goes.

64 She who had loved equally the shade65 And her indolence in it, who had laboured66 Only as a lily of the valley,

67 Now goes bounding over the stark ridges,68 Skirts tucked high like the huntress, or she plunges69 Down through brambly goyles, bawling at hounds,

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70 Hunting the harmless; the hare who sees best backwards,71 Hinds with painful eyes like ballerinas,72 Tall stags on their dignity. She has nothing

73 To do with fatal boars. She shuns wolves,74 Their back teeth always aching to crack big bones.75 Bears with a swipe like a dungfork. Lions,

76 Lank bellies everlastingly empty,77 That lob over high bomas, as if weightless,78 With bullocks in their jaws. 'These,' she cried,

79 'O my beloved, are your malefic planets.80 Never hesitate to crush a coward81 But, challenged by the brave, conceal your courage.

82 'Leave being bold, my love, to the uglier beasts.83 Else you stake my heart in a fool's gamble.84 Let Nature's heavier criminals doze on

85 'Or you may win your glory at my cost.86 The beauty, the youth, the charms that humbled Venus,87 Feel silly and go blank when suddenly a lion

88 'Looks their way. They have no influence89 On whatever lifts a boar's bristles,90 Or on the interests or on the affections


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91 'Of any of that gang. The tusk of the boar92 Is the lightning jag that delivers the bolt.93 The ignorant impact of solidified

[Page 132 ]

94 'Hunger in the arrival of a lion95 Turns everything to dust. I abhor them!'

96 'But why should you abhor them?'97 'There is a lesson

98 'These coarse brutes can teach us. But first,99 This hunters's toil is more than my limbs are used to.100 Look, that kindly poplar has made cool

101 'A bed of shade in the grass, just for us.'102 So Venus pillowed her head on the chest of Adonis.103 Then, to her soft accompaniment of kisses:

104 'Once the greatest runner was a woman---so swift105 She outran every man.106 It is true. She could and she did.107 But none could say which was more wonderful---108 The swiftness of her feet or her beauty.

109 'When this woman questioned the oracle110 About her future husband111 The god said: "Atalanta,112 Stay clear of a husband.113 Marriage is not for you. Nevertheless

114 '"You are fated to marry.115 And therefore fated, sooner or later, to live116 Yourself but other." The poor girl,117 Pondering this riddle, alarmed,118 Alerted, alone in a thick wood,

[Page 133 ]


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119 'Stayed unmarried.120 The suitors who kept at her stubbornly121 She met122 With a fearful deterrent:123 "You can win me," she told them,

124 '"Only if you can outrun me.125 That is to say, if you will race against me.126 Whoever wins that race---he is my husband.127 Whoever loses it---has lost his life.128 This is the rule for all who dare court me."

129 'Truly she had no pity.130 But the very ferocity131 Of this grim condition of hers132 Only lent her beauty headier power---133 Only made her suitors giddier.

134 'Hippomenes watched the race.135 "What fool," he laughed, "would wager life itself136 Simply to win a woman---137 With a foregone conclusion against him?138 This is a scheme to rid the world of idiots."

139 'But even as he spoke he saw the face140 Of Atalanta. Then as her dress opened141 And fell to her feet142 He saw her dazzling body suddenly bared.143 A beauty, O Adonis, resembling mine

144 'Or as yours would be if you were a woman.

[Page 134 ]

145 'Hippomenes' brain seemed to turn over. His arms,146 As if grabbing to save himself as he slipped,147 Were reaching towards her, fingers hooked,148 And he heard his own voice149 Coming like somebody else's: "What am I saying?

150 '"I did not know, I never guessed151 What a trophy152 You run for---"


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153 And there, as he stammered and stared,154 His own heart was lost.

155 'Suddenly he was terrified of a winner.156 He prayed that all would fail and be executed.157 "But why," he muttered, "am I not out among them158 Taking my chance?159 Heaven helps those who give it something to help."

160 'These words were still whirling in his head161 As her legs blurred past him.162 Though her velocity was an arrow163 As from a Turkish bow of horn and sinew164 The shock-wave was her beauty.

165 'Her running redoubled her beauty.166 The ribbon-ties at her ankles167 Were the wing-tips of swallows.168 The ribbon-ties at her knees169 Were the wing-tips of swifts.

170 'Her hair blazed above her oiled shoulders.171 And the flush on her slender body172 Was ivory tinted

[Page 135 ]

173 By rays that glow174 Through a crimson curtain.

175 'And while this hero gazed with drying mouth176 It was over.177 Atalanta stood adjusting her victor's chaplet178 And her defeated suitors, under the knife,179 Sprawled as they coughed up her bloody winnings.

180 'Hippomenes ignored the draining corpses.181 He stepped forward---his eyes gripping hers.182 "Why do you scry for fame, Atalanta,183 In the entrails184 Of such pathetic weaklings?

185 '"Why not run against me?186 If I win


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187 You will not be shamed---only surpassed188 By the son of Megareus, who was sired by Onchestius,189 Who was sired by Neptune, god of the sea.

190 '"I am Hippomenes---191 A great-grandson of the god of the oceans.192 I have not disappointed expectations.193 If my luck fails, by the fame of Hippomenes194 Your fame shall be that much more resplendent."

195 'Atalanta was astonished as she felt196 Her heart falter. Her legs began to tremble.197 Her wild rage to conquer seemed to have kneeled198 In a prayer to be conquered.199 She murmured:

[Page 136 ]

200 '"Which god, jealous of beautiful youth,201 Plots now to slay this one?202 Putting it into his head to fling away life.203 As I am the judge:204 Atalanta is not worth it.

205 '"It is not his beauty that makes me afraid206 Though it well might.207 It is his innocence, his boyishness208 Touches me, and hurts me.209 He is hardly a boy. He is a child.

210 '"Yet with perfect courage,211 Contemptuous of death.212 Also fourth in descent, as he claims, from the sea-god.213 Also he loves me214 And is ready to die if he cannot have me.

215 '"Listen, stranger,216 Get as far away from me as you can217 By the shortest route.218 Marriage with me is death.219 Go while you can move.

220 '"My bridal bed, my virgin bed, is a sump


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221 Under the executioner's block.222 Go and go quickly.223 No other woman will refuse you.224 The wisest will do all she can to win you.

225 '"Yet why should I bother myself?226 After so gladly killing so many227 Why should I care now? Die if you must.

[Page 137 ]

228 If these poor corpses here cannot deter you,229 If you are so sick of your life---then die.

230 '"They will say: because he dared to love her231 She killed him. I shall have to hear:232 Her thanks for his fearless love was a shameful death.233 This will bring me fame---but ill-fame.234 Yet none of it is my fault.

235 '"You cannot win, Hippomenes,236 Forget me.237 If only your insanity could shrink238 Into your feet as a superhuman swiftness!239 Look at him. His face is like a girl's.

240 '"In me there sleeps evil for both of us.241 Do not wake it up. Go quietly away.242 You belong to life. But believe me,243 If Fate had not made my favour lethal244 You alone would be my choice."

245 'Atalanta knew nothing about love246 So she failed247 To recognise love's inebriation248 As it borrowed her tongue to pronounce these words.249 She was hardly aware of what they meant.

250 'But her father, and the crowd, demanded the race.251 And Hippomenes was already praying: "O Venus,252 You gave me this great love---now let me keep it."253 A quirk of air brought his prayer to my hearing.254 Moved, I moved quickly.


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[Page 138 ]

255 'The most precious acre in Cyprus256 Is my temple's orchard. A tree grows there257 Of solid gold. With leaves of green gold258 On boughs of white gold. Among those leaves259 Hang apples of red gold. I picked three.

260 'Visible only to Hippomenes261 I taught him the use of these apples.262 Then at a blast from the trumpets263 Both shot from their marks.264 Their feet flickered away and the dust hung.

265 'They could have been half-flying over water266 Just marring the shine.267 Or over the silky nape of a field of barley.268 Hippomenes felt the crowd's roar lifting him on:269 "Hippomenes! You can win! Hippomenes!"

270 'And maybe Atalanta271 Was happier than he was to hear that shout272 As she leaned back on her hips, reining back273 The terrible bolt of speed in her dainty body,274 And clung to him with her glance even as she left him

275 'Tottering as if to a halt, labouring for air276 That scorched his mouth and torched his lungs,277 With most of the course to go. This was the moment

278 For flinging one of my apples out past her---279 He bounced it in front of her feet and away to the left.

280 'Startled to see such a gorgeous trinket281 Simply tossed aside, she could not resist it.

[Page 139 ]

282 While she veered to snatch it up283 Hippomenes was ahead, breasting the crest284 Of the crowd's roar.


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285 'But Atalanta came back in with a vengeance.286 She passed him so lightly he felt to be stumbling.287 Out went the second apple.288 As if this were as easy she swirled and caught it289 Out of a cloud of dust and again came past him.

290 'Now he could see the flutter of the crowd at the finish.291 "O Venus," he sobbed, "let me have the whole of your gift!"292 Then with all his might he hurled293 The last apple294 Past and beyond her---into a gulley

295 'Choked with tumbled rock and thorn. She glimpsed it296 Vanishing into a waste297 Of obstacles and lost seconds.298 With two gold apples heavier at each stride299 And the finish so near, she tried to ignore it.

300 'But I forced her to follow. And the moment she found it301 That third apple I made even heavier.302 Lugging her three gold prizes far behind303 Her race was lost. Atalanta belonged to the winner.304 So their story begins.

305 'But tell me, Adonis, should he have given me thanks306 And burned costly perfumes in my honour?307 Neither thanks nor perfumes arrived. He forgot my help.

[Page 140 ]

308 'Anger overtook me. I was hurt.309 I swore I would never again be slighted so.310 My revenge would scare mankind for ever.

311 'Now hear the end of the story. This fine pair312 Worn out with their wanderings, in a deep wood313 Found a temple314 Built long since for Cybele, Mother of the Gods,315 Whose face is a black meteorite.

316 'Both thought they were tired enough that night317 To sleep on the stone paving. Till I kissed318 The ear of Hippomenes


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319 With a whisper. As my lips touched him he shivered320 Into a fit of lust like epilepsy.

321 'Under the temple was a cave shrine322 Hollowed in solid bedrock and far older323 Than the human race. An unlit crypt.324 It was walled325 With wooden images of the ancient gods.

326 'This was the sanctum doomed Hippomenes327 Now defiled,328 Sating himself on the body of Atalanta.329 The desecrated wooden images330 Averted their carved faces in horror.

331 'And the tower-crowned Mother of All, Cybele,332 Considered plunging both333 As they copulated334 Into Styx, the tarpit of bubbling hell.335 But that seemed insufficient to her.

[Page 141 ]

336 'Instead she dropped maned hides337 Over their sweating backs. Hardened and hooked338 Their clutching fingers into talons. Let339 Their panting chest-keels deepen. Let them sweep340 The dust with long tails. Gargoyle-faced,

341 'And now with speech to match, these godless lovers342 Rumble snarls, or cough, or grunt, or roar.343 They have the thorny scrub for a nuptial chamber344 And are lions---their loathsome fangs obedient345 Only to the bridle-bits of Cybele.

346 'O dear love,347 These and the others like them, that disdain348 To give your hounds a run but come out looking for the hunter,349 For my sake, O dear boy, let them lie.350 Do not ruin our love with your recklessness.'

351 Her lesson done, the goddess climbed with her swans352 Towards lit clouds. Meanwhile, as Adonis


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353 Pondered her parable to find a meaning,

354 His hounds woke a wild boar in a wallow.355 When this thug burst out his boar-spear's point356 Glanced off the bone into the hump of muscle.

357 The boar deftly hooked the futile weapon358 Out of the wound and turned on the hunter,359 Overtook the boy's panic scramble,

[Page 142 ]

360 Bedded its dagger tusks in under his crotch361 Then ploughed him with all its strength as if unearthing362 A tough tree's roots, till it hurled him aside, mangled.

363 Venus, afloat on swansdown in the high blue,364 Still far short of Paphos, felt the shock-wave365 Of the death-agony of Adonis.

366 She banked and diving steeply down through cirrus367 Sighted her darling boy where he sprawled368 Wallowing in a mire of gluey scarlet.

369 She leapt to the earth, ripping her garment open.370 She clawed her hair and gouged her breasts with her nails,371 Pressing her wounds to his wounds as she clasped him

372 And screaming at the Fates: 'You hags shall not373 Have it all your way. O Adonis,374 Your monument shall stand as long as the sun.

375 'The circling year itself shall be your mourner.376 Your blood shall bloom immortal in a flower.377 Persephone preserved a girl's life

378 'And fragrance in pale mint. I shall not do less.'379 Into the broken Adonis she now dripped nectar.380 His blood began to seethe---as bubbles thickly

381 Bulge out of hot mud. Within the hour382 Where he had lain a flower stood---bright-blooded383 As those beads packed in the hard rind


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[Page 143 ]

384 Of a pomegranate. This flower's life is brief.385 Its petals cling so weakly, so ready to fall386 Under the first light wind that kisses it,

387 We call it 'windflower'.

[Page 144 ]

Pygmalion

1 If you could ask the region of Amathis2 Where the mines are so rich3 Whether it had wanted those women4 The Propoetides,5 You would be laughed at, as if you had asked6 Whether it had wanted those men7 Whose horned heads earned them the name Cerastae.

8 An altar to Zeus,9 God of hospitality, stood at the doors10 Of the Cerastae, soaked---11 A stranger would assume---with the blood12 Of the humbly sacrificed13 Suckling calves and new lambs of Amathis.14 Wrong. They butchered their guests.

15 Venus was so revolted to see offered16 Such desecrated fare17 She vowed to desert Ophiusa18 And her favoured cities.19 But she paused: 'The cities,' she reasoned,20 'And the places I love---21 What crime have these innocents committed?

22 'Why should I punish all


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23 For a few? Let me pick out the guilty24 And banish or kill them---25 Or sentence them to some fate not quite either26 But a dire part of both.

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27 The fate for such, I think, is to become28 Some vile thing not themselves.'

29 The horns of the Cerastae suggested30 One quick solution for all---31 Those men became bullocks. As for the others,32 The Propoetides---33 Fools who denied Venus divinity---34 She stripped off their good names35 And their undergarments, and made them whores.

36 As those women hardened,37 Dulled by shame, delighting to make oaths38 Before the gods in heaven39 Of their every lie, their features hardened40 Like their hearts. Soon they shrank41 To the split-off, heartless, treacherous hardness42 Of sharp shards of flint.

43 The spectacle of these cursed women sent44 Pygmalion the sculptor slightly mad.45 He adored woman, but he saw46 The wickedness of these particular women47 Transform, as by some occult connection,48 Every woman's uterus to a spider.49 Her face, voice, gestures, hair became its web.50 Her perfume was a floating horror. Her glance51 Left a spider-bite. He couldn't control it.

52 So he lived53 In the solitary confinement54 Of a phobia,55 Shunning living women, wifeless.

[Page 146 ]


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56 Yet he still dreamed of woman.57 He dreamed58 Unbrokenly awake as asleep59 The perfect body of a perfect woman---60 Though this dream61 Was not so much the dream of a perfect woman62 As a spectre, sick of unbeing,63 That had taken possession of his body64 To find herself a life.

65 She moved into his hands,66 he took possession of his fingers67 And began to sculpt a perfect woman.68 So he watched his hands shaping a woman69 As if he were still asleep. Until70 Life-size, ivory, as if alive71 Her perfect figure lay in his studio.

72 So he had made a woman73 Lovelier than any living woman.74 And when he gazed at her75 As if coming awake he fell in love.

76 His own art amazed him, she was so real.77 She might have moved, he thought,78 Only her modesty79 Her sole garment---invisible,80 Woven from the fabric of his dream---81 Held her as if slightly ashamed82 Of stepping into life.

[Page 147 ]

83 Then his love84 For this woman so palpably a woman85 Became his life.

86 Incessantly now87 He caressed her,88 Searching for the warmth of living flesh,89 His finger-tip whorls filtering out90 Every feel of mere ivory.


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91 He kissed her, closing his eyes92 To divine an answering kiss of life93 In her perfect lips.94 And he would not believe95 They were after all only ivory.

96 He spoke to her, he stroked her97 Lightly to feel her living aura98 Soft as down over her whiteness.99 His fingers gripped her hard100 To feel flesh yield under the pressure101 That half wanted to bruise her102 Into a proof of life, and half did not103 Want to hurt or mar or least of all104 Find her the solid ivory he had made her.

105 He flattered her.106 He brought her love-gifts, knick-knacks,107 Speckled shells, gem pebbles,108 Little rainbow birds in pretty cages,109 Flowers, pendants, drops of amber.110 He dressed her111 In the fashion of the moment,

[Page 148 ]

112 Set costly rings on her cold fingers,113 Hung pearls in her ears, coiled ropes of pearl114 To drape her ivory breasts.

115 Did any of all this add to her beauty?116 Gazing at her adorned, his head ached.117 But then he stripped everything off her118 And his brain swam, his eyes119 Dazzled to contemplate120 The greater beauty of her naked beauty.

121 He laid her on his couch,122 Bedded her in pillows123 And soft sumptuous weaves of Tyrian purple124 As if she might delight in the luxury.125 Then, lying beside her, he embraced her126 And whispered in her ear every endearment.


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127 The day came128 For the festival of Venus---an uproar129 Of processions through all Cyprus.130 Snowy heifers, horns gilded, kneeled131 Under the axe, at the altars.

132 Pygmalion had completed his offerings.133 And now he prayed, watching the smoke134 Of the incense hump shapelessly upwards.135 He hardly dared to think136 What he truly wanted137 As he formed the words: 'O Venus,138 You gods have power139 To give whatever you please. O Venus140 Send me a wife. And let her resemble---'

[Page 149 ]

141 He was afraid142 To ask for his ivory woman's very self---143 'Let her resemble144 The woman I have carved in ivory.'

145 Venus was listening146 To a million murmurs over the whole island.147 She swirled in the uplift of incense148 Like a great fish suddenly bulging149 Into a tide-freshened pool.150 She heard every word151 Pygmalion had not dared to pronounce.

152 She came near. She poised above him---153 And the altar fires drank her assent154 Like a richer fuel.155 They flared up, three times,156 Tossing horns of flame.

157 Pygmalion hurried away home158 To his ivory obsession. He burst in,159 Fevered with deprivation,160 Fell on her, embraced her, and kissed her161 Like one collapsing in a desert162 To drink at a dribble from a rock.


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163 But his hand sprang off her breast164 As if stung.165 He lowered it again, incredulous166 At the softness, the warmth167 Under his fingers. Warm168 And soft as warm soft wax---

[Page 150 ]

169 But alive170 With the elastic of life.

171 He knew172 Giddy as he was with longing and prayers173 This must be hallucination.174 He jerked himself back to his senses175 And prodded the ivory. He squeezed it.176 But it was no longer ivory.177 Her pulse throbbed under his thumb.178 Then Pygmalion's legs gave beneath him.179 On his knees180 He sobbed his thanks to Venus. And there181 Pressed his lips182 On lips that were alive.183 She woke to his kisses and blushed184 To find herself kissing185 One who kissed her,186 And opened her eyes for the first time187 To the light and her lover together.

188 Venus blessed the wedding189 That she had so artfully arranged.190 And after nine moons Pygmalion's bride191 Bore the child, Paphos,192 Who gave his name to the whole island.

[Page 151 ]

Hercules and Dejanira


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1 Hercules, the son of Jupiter,2 Was bringing his new bride home3 When he came to the river Evenus.

4 Burst banks, booming torrent5 Where there had been a ford. Hercules6 Had no fear for himself, only for his wife.

7 A centaur galloped up. This was Nessus8 Familiar with the bed of that river.9 Broad haunch, deep shoulder, powerful vehicle10 For forcing a way through strong water.

11 'Let me take her over,' he offered.12 'Big as you are, Hercules,13 You will be swept off your feet, but you can swim.'

14 Thinking only of getting across15 This earth-shaking menace16 That stunned the air with mist,17 The Boeotian hero hoisted his darling18 Onto the centaur's back.

19 Dejanira clung there, white with fear---20 Paralysed21 Between her dread of the river22 And her dread of the goat-eyed centaur.23 Who now plunged straight into24 The high-riding boils of brown water.

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25 Hercules wasted no time either.26 He hurled his club and his heavy bow27 Right across to the far bank, and muttered:28 'No river resists me.'29 Then, without pausing30 To seek some broader, quieter reach of water,31 Leapt in as he was, at the narrowest place,32 Dragging the drogue of his arrow quiver


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33 And the ponderous pelt of the lion,34 Breasting the race right there, where it tightened35 In a blaze of brown foam through the narrows.

36 He came out hard-skinned and glistening37 On the other side38 And had just picked up his bow39 When a human scream tossed clear40 Of the river's rumbling stampede41 And he saw Nessus42 Galloping away with Dejanira.

43 'You fool,' roared Hercules,44 'Do you think your horse hooves are equal45 To your mad idea?46 Do you think you can plant your family tree47 Between me and mine?48 Nessus, the cure for you is on its way.49 Neither respect for me50 Nor your father's howls in hell51 Chained on his wheel of fire52 Can deflect you from the forbidden woman.53 But I shall overtake you,54 Not on my feet, but flying55 On the feather of a weapon.'

[Page 153 ]

56 As these words left the mouth of Hercules57 His arrow arrived,58 And Nessus was looking down59 At the barbed head, raw with blood,60 Jutting from his breastbone61 Before he felt it splinter his vertebrae.

62 He wrenched the arrow clean through him63 And the blood burst free,64 Thudding jets, at front and back---65 Blood already blackened66 By the arrow's medication---67 The lethal juices of the Lernaean Hydra.

68 This blood brought a last brain-wave to Nessus.


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69 He saw its use. 'Let me,' he groaned,70 'Leave an avenger behind me.'71 Then stripping off his shirt72 And soaking it in the hot fountain73 Pumping from his chest74 Gave it to Dejanira.75 'With my dying words,' he whispered,76 'I give you this love-charm, to win man's love.77 No man who wears it can resist it.'

78 The years went by. The triumphs of Hercules79 Grew familiar to the whole world80 As did Juno's hatred of him.

81 His conquest of Oechalia,82 That looked like just another, was his last.

[Page 154 ]

83 Returning from this victory, intending84 To offer up thanks to Jupiter85 At Cenaeum, on flaming altars,86 Hercules himself was overtaken87 By a whisper,88 By rumour---89 Rumour who loves to spice big bowls of the false90 With a pinch of the true,91 And who, gulping her own confections,92 Grows from nearly nothing to fill the whole world.93 Rumour reached his wife well before him94 And offered her something irresistible,95 Telling her that her husband, the tower of man,96 Had fallen for Iole. What you fear97 Overtakes you. Dejanira98 Had always dreaded this moment.99 Her screams had waited too long100 For exactly this. After the screams101 She fell to the ground sobbing.102 But straightaway pulled herself together:103 'Why wail---except to amuse my rival?104 She'll be at the door any minute.


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105 A plan! Cunning!106 The brain---before it's too late!107 Before he marries her.108 Scold? Or be silent?109 Go home to Calydon, and hide there110 Under your father's throne?111 Or sit it out here?112 Disappear, and mystify both---113 Or stay and poison their pleasures114 With my noise and nuisance115 If nothing else?

[Page 155 ]

116 Or remind myself I am the sister117 Of Meleager118 And frighten the life out of everybody119 With the way I kill her---120 Illustrating my agony on her body,121 Demonstrating, incidentally,122 What it means to be jilted?'

123 As she revolved her options124 She recalled the dying gaze of the centaur---125 And his last breath---making sacred126 The promise in the strawberry shirt of blood.127 She saw her perfect solution.128 Unknowing as she was129 Of any hidden meaning in the garment130 This unfortunate woman handed the shirt131 That would complete her misery132 To Hercules' factotum---one Lichas.

133 She called it a welcoming,134 A homecoming gift, for her husband.

135 Unknowing as she sent it, the hero received it---136 Put off his lion pelt137 And pulled over his shoulders the bile138 That made his arrows fatal---139 Bile crushed from the gall140 Of the Hydra so famously defeated.

141 He had lit the first altar flames


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142 For the high god.143 Now he sprinkled incense into the flames

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144 Chanting his prayers of gratitude, and pouring145 Wine from goblets over the altar marble.

146 But already the venom in the weave of his shirt,147 Softened and activated148 By the heat of the altar,149 Was soaking into his skin.150 It reached and touched his blood. Then of a sudden151 Struck through his whole body.

152 Amazed at the flush of pain153 But refusing to acknowledge it154 Or that anything of the sort could be happening155 To him156 Hercules for a while157 Did not even gasp.158 He thought he had shrugged off worse.159 Then came a bigger pang---160 A prong of pure terror161 That jabbed his very centre162 And opened163 A whole new order of agony.164 At last he understood.165 His roar shook the woods of Oeta.166 His frantic hands knew they were too late167 As he scattered the altarstones and tore168 At the folds of the horrible garment.169 Wherever the weave came away170 It lifted sheets of steaming skin with it.171 Either it clung,172 Stronger than he was, or tore free173 Only where the muscles tore free,

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174 Writhing rags and rope-ends of muscle,175 Baring the blue shine of thick bones.


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176 The blood in all his veins had become venom.177 His body was one blaze,178 As if steam exploded179 Where a mass of white-hot iron180 Plunged into ice.

181 All being was agony, bottomless.182 His heart pounded flame.183 His shape melted in bloody plasm.184 His sinews cracked and shrank.185 His bones began to char.

186 Clawing at the stars, he cried:187 'O Juno, daughter of Saturn,188 Are you gloating?189 Lean out of heaven and smile190 At what is happening to me.191 Glut your depraved heart on this banquet.192 Or if I am so pathetic193 That even my destroyer, yes, even you194 Have to pity me195 Then let me be rid of my life.196 You are my stepmother, give me a gift,197 A fitting gift from you,198 Give me this death quickly,199 Remove this soul you hate so much200 And torture so tirelessly,201 This soul that has survived, in relentless toil,202 For this finale.203 Did I rid the earth of Busiris,

[Page 158 ]

204 The king who draped his temples205 With the blood of travellers?206 Did I pluck Antaeus207 From the nurse of his infinite strength---208 The breasts of his mother Earth---209 Denying him any refreshment there,210 Till he perished?211 Is this why I never hesitated212 To embrace those three-bodied horrors,213 The Spanish herdsman, and Cerberus,214 The dog at the gate of hell?


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215 Are these the hands216 That twisted the head of the giant bull down217 And pinned his horn in the earth?218 The hands that helped Elis219 And the waters of Stymphalus220 And the woods of Parthenius---221 The hands that brought me222 The prize of the Amazons,223 A sword-belt of worked gold---224 The hands that picked the apples of Hesperus225 From the coils of the unsleeping serpent?226 I barely paused for the Arcadian boar.227 The centaurs were helpless against me.228 The multiplication of the Hydra's heads229 Were profitless to the monster.230 And the man-eating horses of Diomed,231 Gorged on human flesh,232 Grown homicidal on their diet---233 Drinking human blood, stalled and bedded234 On the rags of human corpses---235 I saw them, I slaughtered them,236 And threw their master's carcase on top of the heap.

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237 The Nemean lion went limp238 In the grip of these fingers.239 I took revolving heaven on these shoulders.240 I never wearied of the labours241 You, Juno, forced me to undertake.242 You ran out of commands243 Before I grew tired of obeying them.244 But this is one labour too many.245 Fire is turning me into itself.246 Courage and weapons are futile.247 I have become a leaf in a burning forest.248 While King Eurystheus, my enemy,249 Eats and laughs and feels invigorated250 Among all the others who trust in gods.'

251 This was the speech252 That burst from the bloody wreckage253 Of the great warrior254 As he careered over the hills of Oeta---


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255 Like a wild bull256 Dragging the barbed spear257 That the hunter fixed in his vitals258 Before he fled.

259 Some saw him260 Tugging at the shirt's last tatters,261 Now inextricably262 The fibres of his own body,263 Uprooting trees, belabouring the faces of cliffs,264 Reaching for his father in heaven.

265 In the blur of this frenzy, Hercules266 Saw the feet of Lichas

[Page 160 ]

267 Sticking from a crevice.268 He had crammed his head and body in there269 With such desperate fear270 He thought he was all hidden.271 But Hercules' pain had become madness.272 He screamed: 'Lichas---you273 Threw this net over me. You trapped me274 In this instrument of torture.275 You were great Juno's catspaw276 To strip my skeleton.'277 And Lichas was jerking in air278 Like a rabbit279 Dragged out by the hind legs.280 He babbled excuses and scrabbled281 For Hercules' knees to embrace them---

282 Too late, Hercules' arm283 Was already whirling like a sling,284 And like a slingstone Lichas285 Shot into the sky, a dwindling speck286 Out over the Euboean Sea.287 As he went he hardened to stone.288 As rain, they say, in the freezing winds289 Hardens to snow, and the spinning snow290 Is packed into hard hailstones.291 Terror, we're told, boiled off his body liquids,292 Baking him to stone. So, petrified,


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293 He began to fall.294 A rock, he splashed295 Into the sea, far out.296 He is still there, a crag in the swell,297 A man-shaped clinker of fear,

[Page 161 ]

298 Feared by sailors, who shun it299 As if it might be alive. They call it Lichas.

300 Now Hercules, most famous301 Son of the high god,302 Felled thick trees on the top of Oeta,303 And built a pyre.304 He summoned Philoctetes, son of Poeas,305 And gave him his bow, his quiver306 And the arrows307 Destined to return to the city of Troy.

308 With the help of Philoctetes309 He kindled the squared stack of tree trunks.310 And draping over it311 His robe---the skin of the Nemean lion---312 He stretched himself full length on top of that,313 Head pillowed on his club,314 And as the flames took hold, and the smoke boiled up,315 Gazed into space like a guest316 Lolling among the wine-cups,317 Head wreathed with festive garlands.

318 Now flames savaged the whole pile319 With elemental power320 Like a pride of squabbling lions,321 Worrying at limbs that ignored them,322 Engulfing a hero who smiled in contempt.

323 The gods watched, distraught324 To see the champion of the earth325 Disintegrating in a blue shimmer,326 Till Jupiter consoled them.

[Page 162 ]


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327 'You are anxious for my son. That is good.328 I am happy to rule329 Over gods who feel gratitude330 Towards one who helped them.331 His exploits have earned your admiration.332 Your admiration for him warms me too.333 His honour is my honour.334 But do not be perturbed by these flames335 Where Oeta seems to erupt.336 The fire can take pleasure in Hercules337 Only through what he had from his mother.338 What he had from me339 Is incombustible, indestructible,340 Eternal---341 Immune to flame, intangible to death.342 That part has completed its earthspan.343 So now---I shall lift it into heaven344 Knowing you will rejoice to welcome it.

345 'If there is one among you346 Who resents347 This deification of my son348 They will have to swallow all ill-feeling349 And agree350 Hercules has earned his reward.'

351 The gods approved. Even Juno352 Heard her husband out with a calm gaze.353 Only the slightest frown flicked her eyebrow354 At the touch of that last sentence.

355 While Jupiter was speaking, the fire356 Removed every trace of Hercules

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357 That fire could get a grip on.358 His mother's boy had vanished.359 In his place glowed the huge cast360 Of the child of Jove.361 The snake sloughs its age and dullness362 In a scurf of opaque tatters,


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363 Emerging, new-made, in molten brilliance---364 So the Tirynthian hero emerged365 More glorious, greater, like a descended god.

366 Then his omnipotent father hoisted him367 Through clouds, in a four-horse chariot,368 And fixed him among the constellations, massive.369 Atlas grunted under the new weight.

[Page 164 ]

The Birth of Hercules

1 Old Alcmene of Argolis,2 Hercules' mother, had Iole3 To hear her incessant grieving remembrance

4 Of her son's triumphs---that the world had watched5 In amazement. To her, his anxious mother,6 Each new task had come as a fresh disaster.

7 At the end, Hercules had asked Hyllus8 To take Iole in, to his hearth and heart.9 Iole carried the hero's unborn child.

10 'O Iole,' cried Alcmene, 'when your time comes11 And you call on Lucina to help you,12 I pray you may find favour, as I did not.

13 'Lucina, she who eases the way for women14 When they perform their miracle of labour,15 For me did the opposite. Having to listen

16 'To Juno's command, not to my prayers,17 She made my time almost fatal to me.18 The sun had gone through nine signs, entering the tenth,

19 'And Hercules, created for travail,20 Was so enormous in me, it was plain21 Only Jove could have sired him.


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22 'My cramps were soon beyond what can be borne.23 Now as I think of it a deathly sweat24 Chills me. The old terror snatches at me.

25 'Seven days and nights I lay screaming.26 I clawed at the sky, begging Lucina27 To help me with her attendants---the gods of birth.

28 'She came, but she came from Juno---29 Already bribed by Juno, and happy,30 To toss my life to Juno's malevolence.

31 'She listened to me as if I were her music,32 Sitting alone by the altar, at the front door,33 Her right leg over and twisted around her left.

34 'And her hands knitted together with locked fingers35 Blocking my baby's birth.36 As my pushing began, she muttered her magic,

37 'Trapping the babe in the tunnel.38 I writhed, I was out of my mind with pain.39 I cursed Jupiter for his unconcern.

40 'None of it was any good.41 My cries would have softened flint.42 I begged to be let die.

43 'The women of Thebes, who were with me,44 Amplified my cries, my prayers, my pleading,45 Trying to comfort me. It was all useless.

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46 'But I had a servant there, a quick-witted girl,47 Galanthis---the most beautiful hair, red gold---48 Low-born, but dear to me for her loyalty.


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49 'She recognised Juno's mischief.50 And running in and out with cloths and water,51 Noticed Lucina, sitting contorted at the altar,

52 'And in mid-stride cried: "Good news.53 Whoever you are, now is your lucky chance54 To congratulate a fortunate woman.

55 '"Alcmene of Argolis is thanking the gods!56 At last---her beautiful child is beautifully born."57 Lucina leaped to her feet in dismay

58 'Freeing her tangled limbs and braided fingers59 And as Lucina's body undid its knot60 My child slid out, effortless, into the world.

61 'They say Galanthis laughed at Lucina---62 Openly, to have fooled her so completely.63 But as she laughed the angered goddess caught her

64 'By that hair, and dragged her to the ground full length,65 And held her there, however she fought to get up,66 And there transformed her forearms into short legs,

67 'And changed her whole body, and, letting her hair68 Keep its colour and cover her, released her69 A bounding and spitting weasel. A weasel!

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70 'And since a lie issuing between her lips71 Had helped a woman deliver her baby,72 The weasel delivers her offspring through her mouth.

73 'But she is brisk and tireless as ever74 And as before is here, there, everywhere,75 All over my house.'

[Page 168 ]


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The Death of Cygnus

1 Under Troy's wall, in mid-battle,2 Cygnus, the son of Neptune,3 Had gone through the Greeks twice4 And sent a freshly butchered thousand5 Tumbling into the underworld. Opposite---6 The chariot of Achilles, through the Trojans,7 A tornado through a dense forest,8 Had left a swathe of shattered trunks,9 Vital roots in the air, a tangle of limbs.10 Achilles was looking for Hector.11 But Hector's humiliation12 Had been deferred a decade into the future.13 Meanwhile, here stood Cygnus,14 With arrogant scowl and blood-washed weapons,15 The champion of the moment. Achilles16 Fixed his attention on him.17 'Think yourself lucky,' he shouted,18 'As you leave your pretty armour to me,19 That it was Achilles who killed you.'20 Then he drove his team straight at him,21 And sent a spear between their white necks22 To drop Cygnus under their hooves.23 The aim was perfect,24 But the blade, that should have split the sternum,25 And the heavy shaft,26 That should have carried clean through the body,27 Bounced off, like a reed thrown by a boy.28 Achilles, astounded, skidded his team to a halt.

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29 Cygnus was laughing.30 'I know which goddess was your mother.31 The Queen of the Nereids.32 But why be surprised if you cannot kill me?33 Do you think I wear this helmet34 Crested with the tails of horses35 For protection? Or that I present this shield36 To save my skin? Or tuck myself in a breastplate37 Because I am nervous?


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38 I carry these for ornament only,39 Just as Mars himself does. Naked,40 My skin would still be proof41 Against the whole Greek arsenal,42 Including yours. This is what it means43 To be the son not of a sea-nymph44 But of Neptune, lord of the whole ocean45 And all its petty deities.'46 His spear followed his words---47 Achilles, with a gesture, caught it48 On the boss of his shield.49 The bronze could not stop it.50 Nine hardened ox-hides behind the bronze51 Could not stop it. The tenth ox-hide stopped it.52 Achilles shook it off,53 And sent a second spear---54 Its shaft vibrating in air---55 That bounced off Cygnus, as if off the wall of Troy.56 A third as heavy, as fast, and as accurate,57 Did no better. Cygnus stood open-armed58 Laughing to welcome these guests59 That knocked on his chest. By now Achilles60 Was groaning with anger61 Like the bull that pivots in the arena

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62 Among the scarlet cloaks, his tormentors,63 Who cannot be pinned down, but flutter away64 From every swipe of his points.

65 Achilles retrieved his failed spears---66 And could hardly believe what he found:67 The great blades68 Sharp and intact as ever.69 'What's happened to my strength?' he muttered.70 'Is there something about this fellow that has spellbound71 The power of my arm---72 The same arm73 That pulled down the wall of Lyrnessus74 When I smashed Thebes75 Like a pitcher76 Full of the blood of the entire populace?77 When I dug such trenches with my weapon


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78 The river Caicus drained79 Whole nations of their crimson?80 Here, too, this arm has slaughtered so many81 Their heaped corpses make monuments---pyramids82 All along the shore, to remind me83 What strength is in it.'

84 As he pondered this, he noticed85 Menoetes, one of the Lycians.86 Exasperated, to reassure himself,87 He hurled a spear, like a yelled oath.88 It went through the breastplate of Menoetes89 As if through a letter90 He happened to be reading.91 It drove on,

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92 And clattered the stones beyond as if it had missed---93 But splashing them with blood.94 As Menoetes---95 Like a crocodile straining to get upright---96 Beat his brow on the earth towards which he crumpled,97 Achilles recovered the spear. 'This corpse, this spear98 And this arm, I have proved, are perfect Achilles.99 Now with the help of heaven,' he cried, 'let Cygnus100 Join us in a similar combination.'101 And he flung the spear---and it travelled102 As if along a beam103 That passed through the left nipple of the target.104 But at a clang the shaft bowed105 And sprang off sideways. Nevertheless106 At that point of impact a splat of blood107 Brought a cry from Achilles---108 A cry of joy, ignorant109 That what he saw was the blood of Menoetes.110 He leapt onto Cygnus like a tiger,111 Hacking at him from every direction112 With his aerobatic sword.113 The flaring helmet flew off in shards114 Like the shell of a boiled egg.115 And the shield116 Seemed to be making many wild efforts117 To escape in jagged fragments.


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118 But Achilles' blade119 Bit no deeper. With a pang of despair120 He saw its edge turning, like soft lead,121 As he hewed122 At the impenetrable neck sinews123 Of this supernatural hero.

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124 With a bellow of fury125 He lifted his shield126 And slammed the boss full in the face of Cygnus,127 Spreading the nose like a crushed pear128 And denting the skull-front concave129 In a shower of teeth. At the same time130 He pounded the top of his skull with the sword pommel,131 Left, right, left, right, boss and pommel.132 Cygnus staggered backwards,133 His head on its anvil, under two giant hammers,134 His neck-bones splintering, his jawbone lolling to his chest.135 Terror and bewilderment had already136 Removed the world from Cygnus.137 A big rock blocked his retreat, he fell over138 Splayed backwards across it,139 Like a victim on an altar.140 And now Achilles hoisted him141 By his helpless legs, and whirled his head142 On the diameter of his noble height143 Like an axe. Through the vertical arc144 Slam down onto the edged stones.145 Then dropped on him, knee staving the rib-cage.146 He gripped and twisted the thong---147 All that remained of the fled helmet---148 Under his chin, a tourniquet that tightened149 With the full berserk might of Achilles150 Till the head almost came off,151 And Cygnus was dead.

152 Achilles' eyes cleared, as he kneeled there153 Panting and cooling.

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154 But now, as he undid the buckles155 That linked the corpse's gorgeous armour,156 He found his plunder empty.

157 In those moments158 Neptune's word had breathed in off the ocean159 And carried away Cygnus160 On white wings, their each wingstroke161 Yelping strangely---a bird with a long162 Undulating neck and a bruised beak163 Aimed at a land far beyond the horizon.

[Page 174 ]

Arachne

1 Minerva, goddess of weavers,2 Had heard too much of Arachne.3 She had heard4 That the weaving of Arachne5 Equalled her own, or surpassed it.

6 Arachne was humbly born. Her father7 Laboured as a dyer8 Of Phocaean purple. Her mother9 Had been humbly born. But Arachne10 Was a prodigy. All Lydia marvelled at her.

11 The nymphs came down from the vines on Tmolus12 As butterflies to a garden, to flock stunned13 Around what flowered out of the warp and the weft14 Under her fingers.15 Likewise the naiads of Pactolus

16 Left sands of washed gold17 To dazzle their wonder afresh18 On her latest. They swooned at all she did.19 Not only as it lay done, but as each inch crept20 From under her touches.


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21 A grace like Minerva's, unearthly,22 Moved her hands whether she bundled the fleeces23 Or teased out the wool, like cirrus,24 Or spun the yarn, or finally25 Conjured her images into their places.

[Page 175 ]

26 Surely, only Minerva could have taught her!27 Arachne28 Laughed at the suggestion.29 Her sole instructor, she claimed, was her inborn skill.30 'Listen,' she cried, 'I challenge Minerva

31 'To weave better than I weave,32 And if she wins33 Let her do whatever she wants with me,34 I shan't care.'35 Minerva came to Arachne

36 As an old woman37 Panting and leaning on a stick.38 'Some things that age brings,' she began,39 'Are to be welcomed. Old experience teaches40 The thread of consequence cannot be broken.

41 'Listen to my warning. Give to mortals42 The tapestries that make you43 Famous and foremost among mortal weavers,44 But give to the goddess45 Your gratitude for the gift.

46 'Leave it to her to boast of you, if she wants to,47 And ask her to forgive you48 For your reckless remarks49 Against her.50 She will hear and she will be merciful.'

51 Arachne turned from her loom.52 She reared like a cobra, scowling,53 And came near to striking the old woman,


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[Page 176 ]

54 Her eyes hard with fury.55 As she spat at her: 'Your brain totters

56 'Like your decrepit body.57 You have lived too long.58 If you possess daughters or granddaughters59 Waste your babble on them.60 I am not such a fool

61 'To be frightened by an owl-face and a few screeches.62 I make up my own mind,63 And I think as I always did.64 If the goddess dare practise what she preaches65 Why doesn't she take up my challenge?

66 'Why doesn't she come for a contest?'67 As Arachne spoke, the old woman68 Seemed to flare up69 To twice her height, crying: 'She has come.'70 All the nymphs fell prostrate.

71 The women of Mygdonia bowed and hid72 Their faces in terror.73 Only Arachne brazenly74 Defied the goddess, with a glare. She flushed deep red75 In the rush of her anger, then paled---

76 As the dawn crimsons then pales.77 But she stuck to her challenge. Too eager78 For the greater glory now to be won,79 She plunged with all her giddy vanity80 Into destruction.

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81 Minerva bent to the contest82 Without another word. She rigged up her loom.83 The shuttles began to fly.84 Both rolled their upper garments down85 Under their breasts to give their arms freedom


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86 For every inspiration.87 So concentrated on the outcome88 Neither was aware how hard she was working,89 Feeding the cloth with colours90 That glowed every gradation

91 Of tints in the rainbow92 Where the sun shines through a shower93 And each hue dissolves94 Into its neighbour too subtly95 For human eye to detect it.

96 Minerva portrayed the divine97 History of her city, Athens,98 And how it came to be named.99 There were the twelve high gods surrounding Jove.100 She characterised each one:

101 Jove in his majesty and thunders,102 Neptune splitting a crag103 With his trident, and the ocean104 Gushing from the crevasse---105 By which he claimed the city.

106 And herself, with a shield and a long spear,107 The high-ridged helmet on her head108 And over her breasts the aegis.

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109 And, where she speared the earth, silvery olives110 Springing up, with berries.

111 The gods gazed astonished. A winged112 Victory perfected the assembly.113 Then the goddess114 Filled each corner with an illustration115 Of the kind of punishment

116 Arachne could now expect for her impudence.117 In one corner, two snowy summits,118 Rhodope and Haemon, had been human119 Before they assumed for themselves


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120 The names of the greatest gods.

121 In another corner the Queen of the Pygmies122 Who had challenged Juno and lost123 Had become a crane124 Warring against her own people.125 In the third corner Antigone,

126 Who had challenged Juno, cried in vain127 To her father Laomedon and to the city of Troy128 As the goddess turned her into a stork.129 She tries to cheer herself with the white flash130 Of her broad wings and her beak's clatter.

131 In the fourth corner Cinyras132 Embraced the temple steps---all that remained133 Of his daughter, his tears134 Splashing the stones.135 Finally

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136 With an embroidered border of tangled olives---137 Pallas framed her design138 And completed the work139 With her own tree, like a flourish,140 The tree of peace, an olive.

141 Arachne's tapestry followed a different theme.142 It showed Europa crying from out at sea143 Astride the bull that had deceived her.144 The high god Jupiter, in his bull form,145 Carrying her off---

146 And glistening with effort.147 You could see her feet recoiling148 From the swipe of the waves through which he heaved.149 And Asteria was there150 Fighting to keep her clothes on

151 Under the storming eagle.152 And Leda, bared153 Under the blizzard of the swan.


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154 Across the growing pattern Jupiter155 Varied and multiplied

156 His amorous transformations:157 A satyr158 Planted Antiope with her divine twins.159 The lady of Tyris yielded her body160 Only to one she thought Amphitryon.

161 The lap of Danae opened162 Only to a shower of gold. Here163 The god has gone into the eye of a candle

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164 To comfort Asopus' daughter.165 There he's a shepherd, knowing Mnemosyne

166 Adores that flute.167 And there as a freckled serpent168 He has overcome Demeter's daughter.169 In each of these Arachne170 Gave Jove rich new life.

171 Then moved on to Neptune---172 Who had become a great bull, too, to cope173 With the daughter of Aeolus.174 And as the god of a river175 Sweeps Aloeus' wife away in a grasp

176 That casts her up imprinted with twin sons.177 Here a ram178 Surprises Bisaltis. There a masterful horse179 Circumvents the modesty of Demeter.180 A dolphin dives with Melantho. And the curse

181 Of Medusa's grisly beauty182 Softens for a bird.183 Arachne captures them all as if she had copied184 Each as it happened.185 Then she brings on Phoebus---

186 As a peasant, a falcon, a lion, last as a shepherd187 Seducing Isse, Macareus' daughter.


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188 Then Bacchus, with a bunch of grapes189 That are no grapes, deceiving Erigone.190 And there in the glowing weave,

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191 Saturn a stallion192 Begetting Chiron---half man and half pony.193 Arachne bordered her picture, to close it,194 With a sparkling wreath of cunningly knotted195 Flowers and ivy. So it was finished.

196 And neither the goddess197 Nor jealousy herself198 Could find a stitch in the entire work199 That was not perfection. Arachne's triumph200 Was unbearable.

201 Minerva tore from the loom202 That gallery of divine indiscretions203 And ripped it to rags.204 Then, all her power gone205 Into exasperation, struck Arachne

206 With her boxwood shuttle207 One blow between the eyes, then another,208 Then a third, and a fourth. Arachne209 Staggered away groaning with indignation.210 She refused to live

211 With the injustice. Making a noose212 And fitting it round her neck213 She jumped into air, jerked at the rope's end,214 And dangled, and spun.215 Pity touched Minerva.

216 She caught the swinging girl: 'You have been wicked217 Enough to dangle there for ever218 And so you shall. But alive,

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219 And your whole tribe the same through all time220 Populating the earth.'

221 The goddess222 Squeezed onto the dangling Arachne223 Venom from Hecate's deadliest leaf.224 Under that styptic drop225 The poor girl's head shrank to a poppy seed

226 And her hair fell out.227 Her eyes, her ears, her nostrils228 Diminished beyond being. Her body229 Became a tiny ball.230 And now she is all belly

231 With a dot of head. She retains232 Only her slender skilful fingers233 For legs. And so for ever234 She hangs from the thread that she spins235 Out of her belly.

236 Or ceaselessly weaves it237 Into patterned webs238 On a loom of leaves and grasses---239 Her touches240 Deft and swift and light as when they were human.

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Bacchus and Pentheus

1 So the fame of the blind2 Seer Tiresias3 Flared up in all the Greek cities.4 Only Pentheus, King of Thebes,5 Laughed at the old man's prophecies.6 'In-fill for empty skulls,'7 He jeered at this dreamer.8 'Dreams,' he explained,9 'Which this methane-mouth


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10 Tells us are the dark manifesto11 Of the corrector,12 In fact are corpse-lights, the ignes fatui,13 Miasma from the long-drop14 And fermenting pit15 Of what we don't want, don't need,16 And have dumped.17 They rise from the lower bowel. And lower.'18 The laughter of Pentheus19 Clanged through his malodorous prisons and echoed20 Into the underworld and into heaven.

21 Tiresias replied with his usual riddle:22 'How lucky for you, Pentheus,23 If only you, like me, had managed24 To get rid of your two eyes25 That so sharply26 Supervise everything and see nothing.27 Then you would not have to watch28 What Bacchus will do to you.

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29 These dreams, that you miscall ridiculous,30 And that attract your derision,31 Just as your own dear face32 Will be unrecognisable33 Because of a glittering mask of blowflies---34 These dreams35 Have shown me this new god, son of Semele,36 And they have shown me a preview, in full colour,37 Of a banquet38 Bacchus will hold for you, Pentheus,39 At which you will be not only guest of honour40 But the food and drink. Think of it.41 Your expensive coiffure42 With your face wrapped in it43 Wrenched off like a cork, at the neck,44 Your blood45 Poured out over your mother and sisters,46 Your pedigree carcase47 Ripped by unthinking fingers48 Into portions, and your blue entrails,


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49 Tangled in thorns and draped over dusty rocks,50 Tugged at by foxes.51 All this, Pentheus, as clear as if52 It had already happened. I saw it53 In a silly dream54 Which this new god, outlawed by you,55 Gave to me on a street corner.56 Gave to me---for me to give to you.57 What can it mean?'

58 Pentheus with a roar59 Kicked the old blind man60 Like a stray befouling dog

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61 From his palazzo. A lifetime too late62 To alter himself or his fate.

63 The god has come. The claustrophobic landscape64 Bumps like a drum65 With the stamping dance of the revellers.66 The city pours67 Its entire population into the frenzy.68 Children and their teachers, labourers, bankers,69 Mothers and grandmothers, merchants, agents,70 Prostitutes, politicians, police,71 Scavengers and accountants, lawyers and burglars,72 Builders, layabouts, tradesmen, con-men,73 Scoundrels, tax-collectors, academicians,74 Physicians, morticians, musicians, magicians,75 The idle rich and the laughing mob,76 Stretched mouths in glazed faces,77 All as if naked, anonymous, freed78 Into the ecstasy,79 The dementia and the delirium80 Of the new god.

81 Pentheus rushes about, his voice cracks.82 He screams like an elephant:83 'This is a disease---84 Toads have got into the wells,85 The granaries have all gone to fungus,86 A new flea is injecting bufotenin.


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87 You forget, you Thebans,88 You are the seed of the god Mars.89 Remember your ancestry90 Under the tongue of the great serpent

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91 Inaccessible to folly.92 You veterans, what has happened to your hearing---93 It was cured and seasoned94 By the crash of weaponry and the war-cries95 And the dying cries of the enemy.96 How can you go capering97 After a monkey stuffed with mushrooms?98 How can you let yourselves be bitten99 By this hopping tarantula100 And by these glass-eyed slavering hydrophobes?101 You pioneers, you first settlers, heroes,102 You who raised our city, stone by stone,103 Out of the slime of the salt marsh,104 And hacked its quiet, with your sword's edge,105 Out of the very solar system106 To shield a night light for your babes and toddlers,107 How can you108 Go rolling your eyes and waggling your fingers109 After that claque of poltroons?110 Remember111 How often you dragged yourselves, by your teeth and nails,112 Out of the mass graves113 And the fields of massacre,114 Clutching your wives and new-born,115 Fighting off the hyenas---116 Can a fed-back, millionfold117 Amplified heartbeat118 And some drunken woman's naked heel tossed over your heads119 Bounce you out of your wits---120 Like bobbing unborn babies?121 Iron warriors, menhirs of ancient manhood,

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122 Tootling flutes123 Wet as spaghetti?


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124 And you philosophers,125 Metaphysicians, where are your systems?126 What happened to the great god Reason?127 And to the stone table of Law128 That you fitted back together129 Out of the Absolute's shattering anger130 Against backsliders?131 You have become sots,132 You have dunked it all, like a doughnut,133 Into a mugful of junk music---134 Which is actually the belly-laugh135 Of this androgynous, half-titted witch.136 You are forgetting the other.137 You forget the hard face of the future138 With its hungry mouth and its cry139 Which is the battle cry140 That waits behind the time of plenty141 Hungry for all you have,142 And that massacres for amusement, for thrills,143 And to liberate your homes and your land144 From your possession.145 You forget the strangers who are not friendly.146 They are coming over the earth's bulge147 Out of the wombs of different mothers.148 As sure as the moon's tide,149 They will lift off your roofs and remove your walls like driftwood150 And take all you have.151 With ground steel they will separate you from it,152 Leaving you hugging the burnt earth.153 If Thebes has to fall

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154 That would be better.155 We could succumb to such a fate with honour.156 Then our despair would resemble a noble trophy,157 Our tears would be monumental.158 But you have surrendered the city159 Not to war's elemental chaos160 And heroes harder and readier than yourselves161 But to a painted boy, a butterfly face,162 Swathed in glitter.163 A baboon164 Got up as an earring


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165 In the ear of a jigging whore.

166 'As for this lewd, blasphemous joke167 About his birth---168 Begotten by God himself, a divine by-blow,169 Then snatched by his father's scorched fingers170 Out of the incineration of his mother---171 Sodden, squirming, no bigger than a newt,172 Then gestated full term, an implant,173 In the thigh of Almighty God.174 By which he implies---like a papoose175 In God's scrotum.176 Do you hear this fairy tale?177 How can you swallow it? Bring the juggler to me.178 Let me get my thumbs on that Adam's apple,179 I'll pop this lie out of him, with squeals,180 Like the pip of yellow181 Out of a boil. Like a pulp of maggot,182 A warble-fly chrysalis183 From under the hide of a bull.184 Bring him.'

[Page 189 ]

185 With the dry foam framing his lips186 Pentheus sent his praetorian guard187 To arrest this creature, this Bacchus,188 Acclaimed as a new god.

189 His grandfather, blear-eyed but long-sighted,190 Tried to restrain him.191 The wise elders, too tottery and arthritic192 To go dancing, tried to restrain him.193 Their warnings fell like holy water sprinkled194 Onto a pan of boiling pig-fat.195 Their head-shakings, white-haired, white-bearded,196 Like a log-jam in a big river197 Only broke his momentum into bellowings,198 Frothings, and the plunge199 Of a cataract.

200 The guards come back bruised and dishevelled.201 They bring to Pentheus not the Bacchus he wanted


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202 But a different prisoner. They call him203 'A priest of the new rites.'204 Hands bound, a jackal-faced Etruscan.205 Pentheus' glare, a white-hot branding iron,206 Bears down on the face of this prisoner.207 With difficulty he calms208 His homicidal hands, as he speaks:209 'Your death approaches210 Very fast, simply because211 Your friends need the warning. So: quickly:212 What is your homeland, your family, and your name?213 And how does it come about214 That you end up here, the manikin doll

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215 Of this ventriloquial, mesmeric,216 Itinerant common fraud?'

217 The voice that answers him is quite fearless.218 'I am Acoetes, out of Maeonia.219 My parents were poor.220 My father possessed neither stock221 Nor ground for it to stand on.222 His wealth223 Was a barbed hook and the art224 Of finding fish with it.225 These, and the wilderness of waters,226 Were his bequest to me.227 But I grew weary of wading among herons.228 I took to open water.229 I pushed a prow out through breakers.230 I stretched my cunning231 Between the tiller, the sail232 And the constellations.233 As I learned the moods234 Of the menagerie of heaven---235 Of squally Capricornus, the saturnine goat,236 Of the Hyades, the little piglets237 Showering summer stars,238 Of the two bears revolving in their clock---239 All the winds of ocean240 Became familiar, and their safe havens.


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241 'One time,242 My destination Delos, I was blown243 Onto the coast of Chios.244 Skill with the oars got us ashore safely.245 That night we camped there. At dawn

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246 I sent Opheltes, the bosun, with men247 To find fresh water,248 While I climbed a headland249 To study the wind, the sky-signs, the horizons.250 Everything looked promising. I returned251 To the ship, recalling my crew.252 "Look what we've found," shouted Opheltes.253 He shoved ahead of him a strange boy,254 A little boy, beautiful as a girl.255 They'd picked him up on the hillside.256 Straight away they'd recognised plunder.257 The child staggered,258 Mouth half open, eyelids heavy.259 He was ready to collapse260 With wine, or sleep, or both.261 But I saw, I knew, by everything262 About him, this boy was more than mortal.263 His face, his every movement,264 Told me he was a god.265 I said to the crew: "I do not know266 Which god you have found but I am certain267 This child is divine."268 Then I spoke to the boy: "Whoever you are,269 Preserve our lives in the sea, bless our voyage,270 And forgive these fellows271 Their rough words and their rough hands."

272 '"None of that rubbish," cried Dictys. "This boy's ours."273 His anger was quick---like his body,274 Quickest of all, like a gibbon,275 To hurtle here and there in the ship's rigging.276 Lybis roared agreement. He was a dullard.

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277 Always feeling he was being robbed278 Or outwitted, always wanting a fight.279 Melanthus joined them---he was sharper, our look-out,280 But bored with too much emptiness281 In front of and behind his blond eyelashes.282 Alcemidon likewise. He thought only283 Of what he could get away with.284 And black Epopus, whose voice was a maul,285 Literally, one huge muscle286 All to itself, the timekeeper287 And metronome of the oarsmen,288 Always craving for exercise. And the rest,289 They bent their voices to his290 Just as out on the sea they bent their bodies.291 The girlish boy292 Was a landfall, a whole port293 For these testy sailors. But I blocked294 The top of the gangplank.295 "Bestial sacrilege," I told them,296 "Shall not defile this vessel297 While I am master of it."

298 'The worst man among them pretended to retch.299 Lycabus. He was so reckless300 He seemed to be searching everywhere301 With a kind of desperation302 For his own violent death.303 Tuscany had thrown him out304 For murdering a neighbour.305 He grabbed at my throat with his rower's fingers306 And would have pitched me overboard307 But I caught hold of a rope, and between my knee308 And his pelvic bone

[Page 193 ]

309 Gave his testicles the fright of their lives.310 The whole crew bellowed, with one voice,311 For him to get up312 And finish what he had started.313 The uproar314 Seemed to rouse the boy.315 The great god Bacchus awoke.316 "My friends," he cried,


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317 "What was that awful noise? It sounded awful!318 Where am I? How did I get here?319 Are you planning to take me somewhere?320 Tell me where."321 Proreus found a soft voice.322 "Nothing to be afraid of. You seemed lost.323 We thought you'd like a lift.324 Where do you want to go?325 Wherever you say---and we'll drop you off."326 Then the god said:327 "Naxos is my home. Take me there328 And many friends for life329 Will give you a welcome to remember."

330 'Those criminals331 With sudden hilarity332 Swore by the sea and all its gods to take him.333 And they urged me to get under way---334 To do the boy this easy favour.335 I took them at their word336 Since Lycabus still sprawled337 Groaning and vomiting in the scuppers.338 I set the painted prow339 Towards Naxos.

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340 'Then Opheltes, in a hissing whisper,341 Asked me if I was crazy.342 And the rest of the crew, their faces,343 Their mouthings, their gestures, made it plain---344 They wanted me to take the boy where they pleased,345 Very far from Naxos.346 I could not believe347 They could suppose a god could be tricked by men.348 I told them:349 "This is not only wicked---it is stupid.350 I'll have no part in it."351 Then one of them, Aethalion,352 Shouldered me from the helm.353 "In that case," he said, "leave our fortunes to us."

354 'As the ship heeled, the god of actors


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355 Went reeling off balance. He clutched the gunwale,356 Stared at the churned swerve in the wake357 And pretended to weep.358 "This is not the way home," he wailed.359 "The sun should be on that side. We were360 Right before. What have I done wrong?361 What is the world going to say362 If the whole crew of you363 Kidnap one small boy?"364 Those bandits laughed at his tears365 And they laughed at me too, for mine.366 But I swear367 By the god himself368 (And there is no god closer to hear me)369 That the incredible370 Truly now did happen.

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371 'First, the ship stops dead in the sea372 As if rammed into a dry dock.373 The oarsmen are amazed. They grimace374 And force the blood from under their fingernails375 To budge the hull or shear the rowlocks.376 The sails are helpless,377 Flogging in their ropes. Then suddenly ivy378 Comes swarming up the oars, it cumbers the oar-strokes379 And tumbles in over the deck,380 Coiling up the masts, boiling over381 To spill great bundles, swinging in the wind,382 Draping the sails. And the god383 Is standing there, mid-ship, crowned384 With clusters of fat grapes.385 He brandishes a javelin386 Twined with stems and leaves of the vine.387 And around him are heaped, as if real,388 The great shapes of big cats, yawning, blinking,389 The striped and the spotted, leopards, lynxes,390 Tigers and jungle cats.

391 'Then either in panic terror or godsent madness392 Every man leaps up, as if for his life,393 And overboard into the sea.


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394 Medon was the first to go black.395 His spine arched into a half-wheel, mid-air.396 Lycabus gibbered at him. "Look he's changing397 Into a sea-monster---"398 As his own gape widened399 Backwards beneath his ears, in the long smile400 Of a dolphin, and his nose flattened,401 His body slicked smooth, his skin toughened.

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402 And Libys---his hands slipped from the oar403 Because they were already shrinking.404 Before he hit the wave he knew they were fins.405 Another was reaching up406 To free the ropes from the ivy407 And found he had no arms. With a howl408 He somersaulted over the stern409 In a high arc410 Flailing the black half-moon of a dolphin tail411 That was suddenly his.412 These creatures crash round the ship.413 They fling sheets of spray over the ivy414 As they plunge under. Or they burst upwards415 Like a troupe of acrobatic dancers---416 Blasting out in a fume, through their blowholes,417 The sea they gulp as they frolic.418 I was the survivor of twenty,419 Shuddering with fear, barely sane.420 But the god was kind.421 "Now steer towards Dia," he told me.422 And I did so. And there I was rewarded.423 I entered the priesthood of this mighty god.'

424 Now Pentheus spoke:425 'You have dreamed us a long dream,426 With a deal of ocean bluster,427 But my anger has neither slept nor cooled.'428 He called for slaves.429 'Break this man on the rack elaborately.430 Send him down to hell grateful431 For the respite.'

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432 So Acoetes was dragged off, and slammed433 Into a strongroom.434 But it is told:435 While the executioner's implements436 Of fire, pincers, choppers, and incidentals,437 Were being readied438 To gratify Pentheus, of a sudden439 Bolts shot out of their sockets and went skittering440 Over the floors. Locks exploded441 In a scatter of components curiously fractured.442 Doors flew open untouched.443 And untouched the shackles444 Fell off Acoetes.

445 Pentheus heard of this. But from it446 Learned nothing. Instead, his brain temperature447 Rose a degree. Something insane448 Behind his eyes449 Tore off its straitjacket.450 He thought no more of bodyguards451 Than of jailors, warders, doctors, nurses.452 Alone he climbed Cithaeron,453 The mountain consecrated to Bacchus,454 Where the air455 Pounded his eardrums like mad fists456 And seemed to pound in his heart,457 And the screaming songs of the possessed458 Were like the screams of a horse, reverberating459 Inside the horse's own skull.460 Pentheus was like that horse461 On a battlefield, when the unfought fury462 Shimmers in mid-air before the attack,463 And the blast of the trumpets

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464 Goes like lightning465 Through every supercharged nerve,466 And he whinnies, rolls his eyeballs,467 Champs foam and paws at the far sky468 To be first at the enemy---


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469 Pentheus was like that470 When he heard the unbearable howls471 And ululations472 Of the Bacchantes, and the clash of their cymbals.473 And when he stumbled in his fury474 And fell on all fours,475 When he clutched the sod and felt their stamping476 Shaking the mountain beneath his fingers,477 When Pentheus478 Saw the frightened worms479 Twisting up out of their burrows480 Then the red veil came over his vision.

481 Halfway up the slope is a level clearing.482 Pentheus bounded into the open483 And halted---484 Utterly unprepared485 For what he had surprised.486 He stared, in a stupor,487 Into the naked mysteries.

488 The first to see him,489 The first to come for him490 Like a bear defending her cubs,491 The first to drive her javelin into him492 Was his own mother---493 Screeching as she came:494 'It's the boar that ploughed up our gardens!

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495 I've hit it! Quickly, sisters, now we can kill it!496 I've hit it.' Pentheus falls497 And the whole horde of women498 Pile on top of him499 Like a pack of wild dogs,500 Like a squabbling heap of vultures.501 Every one claws to get hold of something502 And pull it away.

503 A changed man, Pentheus,504 Emptied with terror,505 Tries to crawl.506 His mouth bites at new words,


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507 Strange words, words that curse himself,508 That renounce himself, that curse Pentheus.509 He convicts himself,510 Begs for forgiveness511 With blood coming out of his mouth.512 He heaves upright,513 Shouting to his aunt: 'Autone,514 Remember your darling Actaeon515 Torn to rags by the hounds that loved him.516 Pity me.' The name Actaeon517 Sounds to her like the scream of a pig518 As she wrenches his right arm519 Out of its socket and clean off.520 While Ino, with the strength of the god,521 Twists the other likewise clean off.522 Armless, he lurches towards his mother.523 'Mother,' he sobs, 'Mother, look at me,524 Recognise me, Mother!'525 Agave stares, she blinks, her mouth wide.526 She takes her son's head between her hands

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527 And rips it from his shoulders.528 She lifts it, like a newborn baby,529 Her red fingers hooked into the hair530 Letting the blood splash over her face and breasts---531 'Victory!' she shrieks. 'I've done it! I did it!'

532 Swiftly, like a light breeze at dawn,533 After the first hard night-frost of the year534 Has left a tree's leaves535 Numbed and precariously clinging,536 So swiftly537 The hands of those women538 Separated the King's bones and stripped them.

539 The lesson540 Was not lost on Thebes, the city of letters.541 Women made sure, thereafter,542 That this sleepy child543 Was acknowledged, was honoured544 And made happy by all who played with him545 In his ritual play,


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546 Blessing all who blessed him.

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Midas

1 Peasants crowded to gawp at Silenus---2 The end-product of a life3 They could not imagine.4 They chained him with flowers and dragged him,5 In a harness of flowers, to their king, Midas,6 As if he were some7 Harmless, helpless, half-tapir or other8 Charming monster.9 When Midas recognised him,10 And honoured him, fat and old and drunk as he was,11 As the companion of Bacchus,12 And restored him to the god,

13 Bacchus was so grateful14 He offered to grant Midas any wish---15 Whatever the King wanted, it would be granted.16 Midas was overjoyed17 To hear this first approach, so promising,18 Of his peculiar horrible doom.19 He did not have to rack his brains.20 A certain fantasy21 Hovered in his head perpetually,22 Wistfully fondled all his thoughts by day,23 Manipulated all his dreams by night.24 Now it saw its chance and seized his tongue.25 It shoved aside26 The billion---infinite---opportunities27 For Midas28 To secure a happiness, guaranteed,

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29 Within the human range30 Of what is possible to a god.31 It grasped, with a king's inane greed,32 The fate I shall describe.

33 Midas said: 'Here is my wish.34 Let whatever I touch become gold.35 Yes, gold, the finest, the purest, the brightest.'36 Bacchus gazed at the King and sighed gently.37 He felt pity---38 Yet his curiosity was intrigued39 To see how such stupidity would be punished.40 So he granted the wish, then stood back to watch.

41 The Phrygian King returned through the garden42 Eager to test the power---yet apprehensive43 That he had merely dreamed and now was awake,44 Where alchemy never works. He broke a twig45 From a low branch of oak. The leaves46 Turned to heavy gold as he stared at them47 And his mouth went dry.48 He felt his brain move strangely, like a muscle.49 He picked up a stone and weighed it in his hand50 As it doubled its weight, then doubled it again,51 And became bright yellow.52 He brushed his hand over a clump of grass,53 The blades stayed bent---soft ribbons54 Of gold foil. A ripe ear of corn55 Was crisp and dry and light as he plucked it56 But a heavy slug of gold, intricately braided57 As he rolled it between his palms.58 It was then that a cold thought seemed to whisper.59 He had wanted to chew the milky grains---

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60 But none broke chaffily free from their pockets.61 The ear was gold---its grain inedible,62 Inaccessibly solid with the core.63 He frowned. With the frown on his face64 He reached for a hanging apple.65 With a slight twist he took the sudden weight66 No longer so happily. This was a fruit67 He made no attempt to bite, as he pondered its colour.


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68 Almost inadvertently he stroked69 The door pillars, as he entered the palace,70 Pausing to watch the brilliant yellow71 Suffuse the dark stone.72 He washed his hands under flowing water, at a fountain.73 Already a hope74 Told him that the gift might wash away,75 As waking up will wash out a nightmare.76 But the water that touched him77 Coiled into the pool below as plumes78 Of golden smoke, settling heavily79 In a silt of gold atoms.

80 Suddenly his vision81 Of transmuting his whole kingdom to gold82 Made him sweat---83 It chilled him as he sat84 At the table85 And reached for a roasted bird. The carcase86 Toppled from his horrified fingers87 Into his dish with a clunk,88 As if he had picked up a table ornament.89 He reached for bread

[Page 204 ]

90 But could not break91 The plaque of gold that resembled a solid puddle92 Smelted from ore.93 Almost in terror now94 He reached for the goblet of wine---95 Taking his time, he poured in water,96 Swirled the mix in what had been translucent97 Rhinoceros horn98 But was already common and commoner metal.99 He set his lips to the cold rim100 And others, dumbfounded101 By what they had already seen, were aghast102 When they saw the wet gold shine on his lips,103 And as he lowered the cup104 Saw him mouthing gold, spitting gold mush---105 That had solidified, like gold cinders.106 He got up, reeling


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107 From his golden chair, as if poisoned.

108 He fell on his bed, face down, eyes closed109 From the golden heavy fold of his pillow.110 He prayed111 To the god who had given him the gift112 To take it back. 'I have been a fool.113 Forgive me, Bacchus. Forgive the greed114 That made me so stupid.115 Forgive me for a dream116 That had not touched the world117 Where gold is truly gold and nothing but.118 Save me from my own shallowness,119 Where I shall drown in gold120 And be buried in gold.121 Nothing can live, I see, in a world of gold.'

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122 Bacchus, too, had had enough.123 His kindliness came uppermost easily.124 'I return you,' said the god,125 'To your happier human limitations.126 But now you must wash away127 The last stain of the curse128 You begged for and preferred to every blessing.129 A river goes by Sardis. Follow it upstream.130 Find the source131 Which gushes from a cliff and plunges132 Into a rocky pool. Plunge with it.133 Go completely under. Let that river134 Carry your folly away and leave you clean.'

135 Midas obeyed and the river's innocent water136 Took whatever was left of the granted wish.137 Even today the soil of its flood plain138 Can be combed into a sparse glitter.139 And big popcorns of gold, in its gravels,140 Fever the fossicker.

141 Midas never got over the shock.142 The sight of gold was like the thought of a bee143 To one just badly stung---


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144 It made his hair prickle, his nerves tingle.145 He retired to the mountain woods146 And a life of deliberate poverty. There147 He worshipped Pan, who lives in the mountain caves.148 King Midas was chastened149 But not really changed. He was no wiser.150 His stupidity

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151 Was merely lying low. Waiting, as usual,152 For another chance to ruin his life.

153 The cliff-face of Tmolus watches154 Half the Mediterranean. It falls away155 To Sardis on one side, and on the other156 To the village of Hypaepa.157 Pan lives in a high cave on that cliff.158 He was amusing himself,159 Showing off to the nymphs160 Thrilling them out of their airy bodies161 With the wild airs162 He breathed through the reeds of his flute.163 Their ecstasies flattered him,164 Their words, their exclamations, flattered him.165 But the flattered166 Become fools. And when he assured them167 That Apollo, no less,168 Stole his tunes and rearranged his rhythms169 It was a shock170 For Pan171 To find himself staring at the great god172 Hanging there in the air off the cave mouth,173 Half eclipsed with black rage,174 Half beaming with a friendly challenge.175 'Tmolus, the mountain,' suggested the god, 'can judge us.'

176 Tmolus shook out his hair,177 Freed his ears of bushes, trees, birds, insects,178 Then took his place at the seat of judgement,179 Binding his wig with a whole oak tree---


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[Page 207 ]

180 The acorns clustering over his eyebrows,181 And announced to Pan: 'Your music first.'

182 It so happened183 Midas was within hearing184 Collecting nuts and berries. Suddenly he heard185 Music that froze him immobile186 As long as it lasted. He did not know187 What happened to him as Pan's piping188 Carried him off---189 Filled him with precipices,190 Lifted him on weathered summits,191 Poured blue icy rivers through him,192 Hung him from the stars,193 Replaced him194 With the fluorescent earth195 Spinning and dancing on the jet of a fountain.

196 It stopped, and Tmolus smiled,197 As if coming awake---198 Back, he thought, hugely refreshed199 From a journey through himself.200 But now he turned201 To Apollo, the great, bright god.202 As he turned, all his forests203 Dragged like a robe.

204 Apollo was serious.205 His illustrious hair burst206 From under a wreath of laurel picked207 Only moments ago on Parnassus.208 The fringe of his cloak of Tyrian purple209 Was all that touched the earth.

[Page 208 ]

210 In his left hand the lyre211 Was a model, in magical code,212 Of the earth and the heavens---


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213 Ivory of narwhal and elephant,214 Diamonds from the interiors of stars.215 In his right hand he held216 The plectrum that could touch217 Every wavelength in the Universe218 Singly or simultaneously.219 Even his posture220 Was like a tone---like a tuning fork,221 Vibrant, alerting the whole earth,222 Bringing heaven down to listen.

223 Then the plectrum moved and Tmolus,224 After the first chords,225 Seemed to be about to decompose226 Among the harmonics.227 He pulled himself together---but it was no use,228 He was helpless229 As the music dissolved him and poured him230 Through the snakes and ladders231 Of the creation and the decreation232 Of the elements,233 And finally, bringing the sea-horizon234 To an edge clean as a knife,235 Restored him to his shaggy, crumpled self.

236 Pan was humbled. Yes, he agreed---237 Apollo was the master. Tmolus was correct.238 The nymphs gazed at Apollo. They agreed.239 But then a petulant voice,

[Page 209 ]

240 A hard-angled, indignant, differing voice241 Came from behind a rock.

242 Midas stood up. 'The judgement,' he cried,243 'Is ignorant, stupid, and merely favours power.244 Apollo's efforts245 Are nothing but interior decoration246 By artificial light, for the chic, the effete.247 Pan is the real thing---the true voice248 Of the subatomic.'

249 Apollo's face seemed to writhe


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250 Momentarily251 As he converted this clown's darkness to light,252 Then pointed his plectrum at the ears253 That had misheard so grievously.

254 Abruptly those ears lolled long and animal,255 On either side of Midas' impertinent face.256 Revolving at the root, grey-whiskered, bristly,257 The familiar ears of a big ass.258 The King,259 Feeling the change, grabbed to hang on to his ears.260 Then he had some seconds of pure terror261 Waiting for the rest of his body to follow.262 But the ears used up the power of the plectrum.263 This was the god's decision. The King264 Lived on, human, wagging the ears of a donkey.

265 Midas crept away.266 Every few paces he felt at his ears and groaned.267 He slunk back to his palace. He needed268 Comfort. He was bitterly disillusioned

[Page 210 ]

269 With the spirit of the wilderness.270 He hid those ears---in a turban superb271 As compensation could be.

272 But a king needs a barber.273 Sworn to secrecy or impalement274 The barber, wetting his lips,275 Clipped around the gristly roots276 Of the great angling ears as if the hair there277 Might be live nerve-ends.278 What he was staring at,279 And having to believe, was worse280 For him than for their owner,281 Almost. He had to hide this news282 As if it were red-hot283 Under his tongue, and keep it there.284 The ultimate shame secret285 Of the ruler of the land.286 It struggled to blurt287 Itself out, whenever


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288 He opened his mouth.289 It made him sweat and often290 Gasp aloud, or strangle291 A groan to a sigh. Or wake up292 In the middle of the silent night293 Certain he had just294 Yelled it out, at the top of his voice,295 To the whole city.296 He knew, this poor barber,297 He had to spit it out somehow.

298 In the lawn of a park he lifted a turf299 After midnight. He kneeled there

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300 And whispered into the raw hole301 'Ass's ears! Midas has ass's ears!'302 Then fitted the turf back, trod flat the grave303 Of that insuppressible gossip,304 And went off, singing305 Under his breath.

306 But in no time,307 As if the barber had grafted it there308 From some far-off reed-bed,309 A clump of reeds bunched out, from that very sod.310 It looked strange, on the park lawn,311 But sounded stranger.312 Every gust brought an articulate whisper313 Out of the bending stalks. At every puff314 They betrayed the barber's confidence,315 Broadcasting the buried secret.316 Hissing to all who happened to be passing:317 'Ass's ears! Midas has ass's ears!'

[Page 212 ]

Niobe


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1 Niobe had known Arachne.2 She, too, scorned the gods---3 For a different reason. Arachne's fate4 Taught Niobe nothing.5 Niobe was proud. She was proud

6 Of the magical powers of her husband---7 Amphion, the King. And she was proud8 Of the purity of the noble blood9 They both shared. And proud10 Of their kingdom's envied might and splendour.

11 But above all these, her greatest pride12 Was her family---her fourteen children.13 And it is true, Niobe, of all mothers14 Would have been the most blest15 If only she had not boasted

16 That she, of all mothers, was the most blest.

17 The daughter of Tiresias, Manto,18 Whose prophetic frenzy19 Opened the three worlds to her,20 Came raving into the streets, possessed by vision.21 She screamed at the women of Thebes:

22 'The goddess is speaking through my mouth.23 She commands you all:24 Twist laurels round your heads, gather at the temple,

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25 Burn incense---give prayers and offerings26 To Leto and the children of Leto.'

27 The Theban women asked no questions.28 If that was what the goddess wanted29 That is what they would give her.30 They filled the temple, their worshipping cries went up31 To Leto and the children of Leto.

32 But suddenly, in a swirl of attendants,33 Niobe was among them.


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34 She looked magnificent---35 Like a great flame, in her robes of golden tissue.36 She reared her spectacular head,

37 Her hair coiled and piled like a serpent38 Asleep on a heap of jewels.39 Anger made her beauty awesome.40 From her full height she raked the worshippers41 With a glare of contempt.

42 'Isn't this insane?43 Aren't you all out of your minds44 To offer tributes to these gods in the sky45 Who exist only by hearsay?46 How can you do this

47 'And at the same time ignore48 Real divinity such as your eyes can see?49 You worship Leto50 Who lives only in a story51 At altars built specially for her.

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52 'But who has built an altar to acknowledge53 What is divine in me?54 My father was Tantalus---55 Among all mortals only he56 Sat at the feasts of the gods.

57 'Only he clinked glasses with them. My mother58 Is a sister of the Pleiades.59 And that great god among the greatest, Atlas,60 Who bears the globe of heaven on his back---61 He is my grandfather. And who forgets

62 'That my grandfather on the other side63 Is Jupiter himself?64 And it is no boast65 When I remind you that great Jupiter66 Is also my father-in-law.

67 'All Phrygia kneels and pays homage


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68 To me. I rule over this city69 That rose into place, stone by stone,70 As if weightless, obedient71 To my husband's magical music.

72 'I am the Queen of the Royal Palace of Cadmus.73 Wherever my eyes rest in my house74 They rest on fabulous wealth.75 Nor can it be denied---my own beauty76 Is not equalled on any face in heaven.

77 'No---I have been blessed above all women.78 Who can deny it? Who can doubt79 That my great fortune will continue to grow?

[Page 215 ]

80 It is too great---far, far too great81 For Fate to reverse.

82 'Ill-fortune83 Cannot lay a finger on me.84 Let her take whatever she will---85 Whatever she can take, still she leaves me86 Far more than she takes.

87 'Tell me,88 How can I fear ill-fortune?89 Even if it came to the worst---90 If I lost some of my children---91 I could never be left with only two.

92 'Only two!93 Two is all that Leto ever had.94 Two children! You might as well have none.95 Get rid of these laurels. Back to your homes.96 Finish with this nonsense. Finish, I say.'

97 Cowed, the women of Thebes obeyed her.98 They dropped the laurel wreaths, broke off their worship,99 Left the altars---100 But their prayers to Leto, like101 Subterranean rivers, could not


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102 Be stopped or diverted.103 They flowed on, unspoken, heard only by Leto.104 And Leto was enraged.105 She climbed to the top of Cynthus106 And cried out to her children---the twins:

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107 None other than Apollo and Diana,108 So lightly dismissed by the Phrygian Queen.109 'Your mother is calling you,' she cried.110 'Your mother, who is so proud of being your mother.111 In heaven I take second place to none

112 'Except Juno herself. Hear me, my children.113 Your mother's divinity is being denied.114 Women loyal to me from the beginning115 Are forbidden to worship at my altar.116 Niobe has forbidden it. Oh help me.

117 'The daughter of Tantalus has inherited118 All her father's blasphemous folly.119 Not only has she emptied my temples,120 She drives me mad121 With insults, derision,

122 'And tells the whole world her fourteen children123 Are a thousand times superior124 To my two. Compared to her I am childless.125 O my children, double her mockery---back126 Into her own mouth, let her swallow its meaning.'

127 Leto would have gone on128 But her great son Apollo spoke: 'Mother,129 Your words merely prolong Niobe's delusion.'130 He exchanged a signal with his sister.131 Together they sailed through the sky

132 Like an eclipse in a cloud133 Till they hung over the city of Cadmus.

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134 Outside the city135 A broad plain smoked like a burning ground,136 Pounded bare and hard137 By charioteers and horsemen, to and fro138 Exercising their horses.139 Niobe's sons were out there140 Astride gaudy saddle-cloths,141 Their gold-studded reins bunched in their fingers,142 Managing muscular horses.

143 Ismenus, Niobe's eldest,144 Was reining his horse hard,145 Bringing it round in a tight circle146 When his spine snapped147 And a bellow forced his mouth open148 As a broad-headed bright-red arrow149 Came clean through him.150 The reins fell loose. For a moment151 He embraced the horse's neck, limply,152 Then slid from its right shoulder.

153 Sipylus looked wildly upward.154 He heard a quiver rattle high in the air155 And urged his horse to a full gallop---156 As the ship's pilot157 Seeing the overtaking squall behind him158 Puts out every inch of canvas159 To catch every breath and escape it---160 But it was no good.161 The god's arrow was already there,162 The feathers squatting in the nape of his neck,163 The long shaft sticking from his Adam's apple.164 He bowed

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165 Over the horse's mane and simply166 Rolled on forward and down167 Under the hooves168 That churned his limbs briefly, scattering the blood.

169 Phaedimus was no luckier.170 With his brother---


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171 Who had inherited the ominous name172 Of his grandfather, Tantalus---173 He had left the horses. These two174 Were doing what they loved best---175 Wrestling together, with oiled bodies,176 And were locked chest to chest,177 Each straining to fold the other backwards178 When the arrow179 From the unerring bow of Apollo180 Slammed through both, and nailed them together.181 Each thought his backbone broken by the other.182 With a single groan they collapsed,183 Crumpling sideways184 A monster with eight limbs, clawing for life,185 Dying a single death from the one wound.

186 Alphenor could not understand187 What was happening.188 He hammered his chest with his fists and tore at it189 With his fingers. He tried190 To lift his two brothers back on their feet---191 But as he struggled there, with all his strength192 Braced under their dead weights,193 A forked barb of Apollo194 Touched him beneath his left shoulder-blade.195 It came out under his ribs, on the right,

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196 With a rag of his liver.197 He felt his heart kicking against the shaft198 As he dropped into darkness199 Beneath his brothers.

200 Long-haired Damasichthon was not so lucky201 To escape so smoothly.202 The arrow that brought him down203 Had gone in behind the knee.204 He flung back his head,205 Showing heaven a mask of agony206 As he made one huge effort to wrench207 The barbs from their anchorage208 Behind his tendons.209 The second arrow found him in that posture.


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210 It went in211 At the base of his throat, in the fork212 Of his clavicle---213 And drove straight down through the aorta.214 A column of blood215 Ejected it and he fell216 Like a broken fountain---217 The blood jetting in twisting and showering arcs218 From his flailing body.

219 Ilioneus was last.220 He dropped to his knees and lifted his arms---221 'You gods,' he cried, 'all of you, hear me,222 Spare me, protect me.'223 But ignorant of his mother's folly224 He was ignorant225 Which gods to appeal to.

[Page 220 ]

226 Apollo the Archer, touched with pity,227 Regretted the arrow228 That his eye was following.229 But the wound was instantly fatal,230 Surgical, precise, minimal---231 It stopped his heart before he felt the impact.

232 Now the news came looking for Niobe.233 Rumour like an electrical storm-wind234 Whisking the dust at street corners---235 People huddling together, then scattering236 In an uproar of wails. Till at last237 Her own family burst in on her, shrieking.

238 She heard it unable to believe---239 Knowing it all true,240 As the severed limb cannot feel.241 Astounded that the gods could do so much242 So swiftly,243 Aghast that they had the power to do it,244 Enraged that they had dared.

245 The final blow fell on her


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246 As if she were already senseless.247 Amphion, her husband, hearing the news248 Had stabbed himself, ending his grief with his life.

249 This was no longer Niobe the Queen250 Who had driven her people, as with a whip,251 From Leto's altars,252 Who had stalked through her own city253 Like a conqueror254 Viewing a conquest---

[Page 221 ]

255 When her beauty, her pride, her arrogance256 Sickened the people with envy and hatred.

257 Now even those who hated her most258 Pitied her. She bowed259 Over the cooling bodies of her sons.260 She kissed them, as if she could give them261 A lifetime of kisses in these moments.262 She lifted her bruised arms:263 'Leto,' she cried, 'feast yourself264 On your triumph, which is my misery.265 I have died seven deaths---at your hands.266 In each of these seven corpses I died267 In agony and lie dead.268 Gloat. And exult. And yet269 Your victory is petty.270 Though you have crushed me I am still far, far271 More fortunate than you are.272 I still have seven children.'273 Demented with her losses,274 Niobe no longer knew275 How to be frightened or prudent.

276 And even as she spoke277 Terror struck278 With an invisible arrow279 All who heard280 A bowstring thud in the air.

281 The seven sisters of the dead brothers282 Stooped by the seven biers,


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283 Loose hair over their shoulders, mourning.284 One of them, as she eased

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285 The arrow from the heart of her brother,286 Fell on him,287 An arrow through her own,288 Already dead, her mouth on his mouth.

289 Another, consoling her mother,290 Stopped mid-sentence, bent291 Over her sudden wound and collapsed,292 Mouth closed and eyes vacant.293 Another, running, seemed to stumble---294 But her sprawl was lifeless.295 Another tripping over her body296 Was dead in the air as she fell.297 One of them298 Squeezed her head and shoulders299 Under a dead brother, another300 Stood in the open sobbing,301 Paralysed with fear.

302 When six of them lay dead303 Niobe grabbed the seventh and covered her304 With her limbs and body,305 And tried to protect her306 In swathes of her robes, crying:307 'Leave me my youngest.308 Leave me one. Leave me the smallest.309 Of all my children let me keep this one.'310 But a slender arrow311 Had already located312 The child313 She tried to hide and pray for.

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314 Niobe gazed at the corpses.315 All her children were dead.316 Her husband was dead.


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317 Her face hardened318 And whitened, as the blood left it.319 Her very hair hardened320 Like hair carved by a chisel.321 Her open eyes became stones.322 Her whole body323 A stone.

324 Life drained from every part of it.325 Her tongue326 Solidified in her stone mouth.327 Her feet could not move, her hands328 Could not move: they were stone,329 Her veins were stone veins.330 Her bowels, her womb, all stone331 Packed in stone.332 And yet333 This stone woman wept.

334 A hurricane caught her up335 And carried her336 Into Phrygia, her homeland,337 And set her down on top of a mountain.338 And there, a monument to herself,339 Niobe still weeps.340 As the weather wears at her341 Her stone shape weeps.

[Page 224 ]

Salmacis and Hermaphroditus

1 Among those demi-gods, those perfect girls2 Who sport about the bright source and live in it,3 The beauty of Salmacis, the water-nymph,4 Was perfect,5 As among damselflies a damselfly's,6 As among vipers the elegance7 Of a viper, or a swan's grace among swans.8 She was bending to gather lilies for a garland


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9 When she spied Hermaphroditus.10 At that first glimpse she knew she had to have him.11 She felt she trod on prickles until she could touch him.12 She held back only a moment,13 Checked her girdle, the swing of her hem, her cleavage,14 Let her lust flood hot and startled15 Into her cheek, eyes, lips---made her whole face16 Open as a flower that offers itself,17 Wet with nectar. Then she spoke:18 'Do you mind if I say---you are beautiful?19 Seen from where I stand, you could be a god.20 Are you a god? If you are human,21 What a lucky sister! As for the mother22 Who held you, and pushed her nipple between your lips,23 I am already sick with envy of her.24 I dare not think of a naked wife in your bed.25 If she exists, I dare not think of her bliss.26 Let me beg a taste, one little sip27 Of her huge happiness. A secret between us.

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28 But if you are unmarried---here I am.29 Let us lie down and make our own30 Bridal bed, where we can love each other31 To sleep. And awaken each other.'

32 The boy blushed---he had no idea33 What she was talking about.34 Her heart lurched again when she saw35 How his blush bewildered his beauty.36 Like the red side of an apple against a sunset,37 Or the ominous dusky flush38 That goes over the cold moon39 When the eclipse grips its edge40 And begins to swallow it inch by inch41 In spite of all the drums and pans and gongs42 Beaten on earth beneath to protect it.

43 Then the nymph slid her arms44 Around his neck, and asked for a kiss,45 One kiss, one brotherly kiss---46 'Get away,' he cried. 'Let me go,47 Or I'm off. And you can sit here


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48 On your basket of tricks all by yourself!'49 That scared Salmacis, she thought he really might go.50 'Oh no, forgive me!' she sobbed. 'Forgive me!51 I couldn't help it. I'm going. Oh, I'm spoiling52 This lovely place for you. I'm going. I'm going.'

53 So, lingering her glances, she goes,54 And truly she seems to have gone.55 In fact, she has ducked behind a bush.56 There she kneels, motionless, head lifted---57 Her eye fixed, like the eye of a leopard.

[Page 226 ]

58 He plays, careless as a child,59 Roams about happily60 Thinking he's utterly alone.61 He paddles into the pool's edge, goes deeper.62 The cool pulse of the spring, warping the clarity,63 Massages his knees, delicious.64 He peels off his tunic and the air65 Makes free with all that had been hidden,66 Freshens his nudity. Under the leaves67 Salmacis groaned softly68 And began to tremble.69 As the sun70 Catches a twisting mirror surface71 With a splinter of glare72 Her own gaze flamed and hurt her. She was already73 Up and leaping towards him,74 She had grabbed him with all her strength---75 Yet still she crouched where she was76 Shaking all over, letting this go through her77 Like a dreadful cramp. She watched him78 Slap his pale shoulders, hugging himself,79 And slap his belly to prepare it80 For the plunge---then plunge forward.81 And suddenly he was swimming, a head bobbing,82 Chin surging through the build of a bow-wave,83 Shoulders liquefied,84 Legs as if at home in the frog's grotto,85 Within a heave of lustre limpid as air86 Like a man of ivory glossed in glass


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87 Or a lily in a bulb of crystal.

88 'I've won!' shrieked Salmacis. 'He's mine!'89 She could not help herself.

[Page 227 ]

90 'He's mine!' she laughed, and with a couple of bounds91 Hit the pool stark naked92 In a rocking crash and thump of water---93 The slips of her raiment settling wherever94 They happened to fall. Then out of the upheaval95 Her arms reach and wind round him,96 And slippery as the roots of big lilies97 But far stronger, her legs below wind round him.98 He flounders and goes under. All his strength99 Fighting to get back up through a cloud of bubbles100 Leaving him helpless to her burrowing kisses.101 Burning for air, he can do nothing102 As her hands hunt over him, and as her body103 Knots itself every way around him104 Like a sinewy otter105 Hunting some kind of fish106 That flees hither and thither inside him,107 And as she flings and locks her coils108 Around him like a snake109 Around the neck and legs and wings of an eagle110 That is trying to fly off with it,111 And like ivy which first binds the branches112 In its meshes, then pulls the whole tree down,113 And as the octopus---114 A tangle of constrictors, nippled with suckers,115 That drag towards a maw---116 Embraces its prey.

117 But still Hermaphroditus kicks to be free118 And will not surrender119 Or yield her the least kindness120 Of the pleasure she longs for,121 And rages for, and pleads for

[Page 228 ]


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122 As she crushes her breasts and face against him123 And clings to him as with every inch of her surface.124 'It's no good struggling,' she hisses.125 'You can strain, wrestle, squirm, but cannot126 Ever get away from me now.127 The gods are listening to me.128 The gods have agreed we never, never129 Shall be separated, you and me.'

130 The gods heard her frenzy---and smiled.

131 And there in the giddy boil the two bodies132 Melted into a single body133 Seamless as the water.

[Page 229 ]

Tereus

1 Pandion, the King of Athens, saw2 King Tereus was as rich3 And powerful as himself.4 He was also descended from the god Mars.5 So Pandion gave his daughter to Tereus,6 And thought himself happy.

7 Hymen and Juno and the Graces,8 Those deities who bless brides, shunned this marriage.9 Instead the bridal bed was prepared by the Furies10 Who lit the married pair to it with torches11 Stolen from a funeral procession.12 Then an owl

13 Flew up from its dark hole to sit on the roof14 Directly above their bed. All that night15 It interrupted their joy---16 Alternating little mewing cries17 With prophetic screams of catastrophe.18 And this was the accompaniment of omens


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19 When Tereus, the great King of Thrace,20 Married Procne, and begot Itys.21 But all Thrace rejoiced. Thereafter,22 The day of their wedding and the Prince's birthday23 Were annual jubilees for the whole nation.24 So ignorant are men.

[Page 230 ]

25 Five years passed. Then Procne spoke to her husband,26 Stroking his face. 'If you love me27 Give me the perfect gift: a sight of my sister.28 Let me visit her. Or, better still,29 Let her visit us. Go---promise my father30 Her stay here can be just as brief as he pleases.'

31 At a command from Tereus, oar and sail32 Brought him to Athens. There King Pandion33 Greeted his son-in-law. Tereus34 Began to explain his unexpected arrival---35 How Procne longed for one glimpse of her sister.36 But just as he was promising

37 The immediate return of Philomela38 Once the two had met, there, mid-sentence,39 Philomela herself---arrayed40 In the wealth of a kingdom---entered:41 Still unaware that her own beauty42 Was the most astounding of her jewels.

43 She looked like one of those elfin queens44 You hear about45 Flitting through the depths of forests.46 Tereus felt his blood alter thickly.47 Suddenly he himself was like a forest48 When a drought wind explodes it into a firestorm.

49 She was to blame---her beauty. But more50 The King's uncontrollable body.51 Thracians are sexually insatiable.52 The lust that took hold of him now

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53 Combined the elemental forces54 Of his national character and his own.

55 His first thought was: buy her attendants56 And her nurses with bribes.57 Then turn the girl's own head58 With priceless gifts---59 Cash in your whole kingdom for her.60 His next thought was

61 Simply to grab her62 And carry her off---63 Then fight to keep her. He was the puppet64 Of instant obsession. No insane plan65 Gave him pause if it promised to make her his.66 All of a sudden, wildly impatient

67 He pressed Pandion again with Procne's request---68 The glove of his own greed. Passion69 Made him persuasive. When he went too far70 He swore Procne71 Sickened to see her sister.72 He even wept as he spoke,

73 As if he had brought her tears with him74 As well as her pleading words.75 God in heaven, how blind men are!76 Everybody who witnessed it marvelled77 At what this man would do for his wife's sake,78 The lengths he would go to! And yet

79 The acting was irresistible!80 Philomela was overwhelmed. She wept too,

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81 Hugging her father, pleading through her tears.82 As he loved her and lived for her happiness83 She begged him to grant her this chance---84 The worst that any woman ever suffered.

85 Tereus stared at the Princess,


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86 Imagining her body in his arms.87 His lust88 Was like an iron furnace---first black,89 Then crimson, then white90 As he watched her kiss and caress her father.

91 He wished himself her father---92 In which case93 His intent would have been no less wicked.94 King Pandion surrendered at last95 To the doubled passion of his daughters.96 Ecstatic, Philomela

97 Wept and thanked him for his permission98 As if he had bestowed99 Some enormous prize on her and her sister,100 Rather than condemned them, as he had,101 To the fate102 That would destroy them both.

103 The sun went down.104 A royal banquet glittered and steamed.105 The guests, replete, slept.106 Only the Thracian King, Tereus, tossed,107 Remembering Philomela's every gesture,108 Remembering her lips,

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109 Her voice, her hair, her hands, her glances,110 And seeming to see111 Every part her garments concealed112 Just as he wanted it.113 So he fed his lust and stared at the darkness.114 Dawn lit the wharf at last

115 For their departure. Now King Pandion116 Implored his son-in-law to guard his charge:117 'I lend her to you118 Because you and she and her sister were persuasive.119 By your honour, by the gods, by the bond between us,120 Protect her like a father.

121 'Send her home soon,


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122 This darling of my old age.123 Time will seem to have stopped till I see her again.124 Philomela, come back soon, if you love me.125 Your sister's absence alone is more than enough.'126 The King embraced his daughter and wept.

127 Then asked both---Tereus and the girl---128 To give him their hands, as seals of their promise.129 He joined their hands together---130 Beseeching them to carry his blessing131 To his far-off daughter and his grandson.132 There the father choked

133 On his goodbye.134 His voice collapsed into sobs,135 Overwhelmed of a sudden136 By fear---

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137 Inexplicable, icy,138 A gooseflesh of foreboding.

139 The oars bent and the wake broadened140 Behind the painted ship.141 Philomela watched the land sinking142 But Tereus laughed softly:143 'I've won. My prayers are granted. She is mine.'144 He was in a fever for the delights

145 That he deferred only with difficulty.146 And the nape of her neck was aware147 Of his eyes148 As he gloated on her---like an eagle149 That has hoisted a hare in its gripe150 To its inescapable tower.

151 The moment the ship touched his own shore152 Tereus lifted Philomela153 Onto a horse, and hurried her154 To a fort, behind high walls,155 Hidden in deep forest.156 And there he imprisoned her.


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157 Bewildered and defenceless,158 Failing to understand anything159 And in a growing fear of everything,160 She begged him to bring her to her sister.161 His answer was to rape her, ignoring her screams162 To her father, to her sister, to the gods.

163 Afterwards, she crouched in a heap, shuddering---164 Like a lamb still clinging to life

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165 After the wolf has savaged it166 And for some reason dropped it.167 Or like a dove, a bloody rag, still alive168 Under the talons that stand on it.

169 Then like a woman in mourning170 She gouged her arms with her nails,171 She clawed her hair, and pounded her breasts with her fists,172 Shrieking at him: 'You disgusting savage!173 You sadistic monster!174 The oaths my father bound you to---175 Were they meaningless?176 Do you remember his tears---you are inhuman,177 You couldn't understand them.178 What about my sister waiting for me?179 What about me?180 What about my life?181 What about your marriage?182 You have dragged us all183 Into your bestial pit!184 How can my sister think of me now?185 Your crime is only half done---186 Kill me and complete it.187 Why didn't you kill me first188 Before you destroyed me that other way?189 Then my ghost at least190 Would have been innocent.191 But the gods are watching---192 If they bother to notice what has happened---193 If they are more than the puffs of air194 That go with their names---195 Then you will answer for this.


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196 I may be lost,197 You have taken whatever life198 I might have had, and thrown it in the sewer,199 But I have my voice.200 And shame will not stop me.201 I shall tell everything202 To your own people, yes, to all Thrace.203 Even if you keep me here204 Every leaf in this forest205 Will become a tongue to tell my story.206 The dumb rocks will witness.207 All heaven will be my jury.208 Every god in heaven will judge you.'

209 Tereus was astonished210 To be defied and raged at and insulted211 By a human being. And startled212 By the sudden clutch of fear213 As her words went home. Speechless, mindless,214 In a confusion of fear and fury

215 He hauled her up by the hair,216 Twisted her arms behind her back and bound them,217 Then drew his sword.218 She saw that219 As if she were eager, and bent her head backwards,220 And closed her eyes, offering her throat to the blade---

221 Still calling to her father222 And to the gods223 And still trying to curse him224 As he caught her tongue with bronze pincers,

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225 Dragged it out to its full length and cut it226 Off at the root.

227 The stump recoiled, silenced,


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228 Into the back of her throat.229 But the tongue squirmed in the dust, babbling on---230 Shaping words that were now soundless.231 It writhed like a snake's tail freshly cut off,232 Striving to reach her feet in its death-struggle.

233 After this, again and again---234 Though I can hardly bear to think about it,235 Let alone believe it---the obsessed King236 Like an automaton237 Returned to the body he had mutilated238 For his gruesome pleasure.

239 Then, stuffing the whole hideous business240 Deep among his secrets,241 He came home, smooth-faced, to his wife.242 When she asked for her sister, he gave her243 The tale he had prepared: she was dead.244 His grief, as he wept, convinced everybody.

245 Procne stripped off her royal garments246 And wrapped herself in black. She built a tomb247 Without a body, for her sister,248 And there she made offerings to a ghost249 That did not exist, mourning the fate of a sister250 Who endured a fate utterly different.

251 A year went by. Philomela,252 Staring at the massive stone walls

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253 And stared at by her guards, was still helpless,254 Locked up in her dumbness and her prison.255 But frustration, prolonged, begets invention,256 And a vengeful anger nurses it.

257 She set up a Thracian loom258 And wove on a white fabric scarlet symbols259 That told in detail what had happened to her.260 A servant, who understood her gestures261 But knew nothing of what she carried,262 Took this gift to Procne, the Queen.


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263 The tyrant's wife264 Unrolled the tapestry and saw265 The only interpretation266 Was the ruin of her life.267 She sat there, silent and unmoving,268 As if she thought of something else entirely.

269 In those moments, her restraint270 Was superhuman. But grief so sudden, so huge,271 Made mere words seem paltry.272 None could lift to her lips273 One drop of its bitterness.274 And tears were pushed aside

275 By the devouring single idea276 Of revenge. Revenge277 Had swallowed her whole being. She had plunged278 Into a labyrinth of plotting279 Where good and evil, right and wrong,280 Forgot their differences.

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281 Now came the festival of Bacchus282 Celebrated every third year283 By the young women of Thrace.284 The rites were performed at night---285 All night long the din of cymbals286 Deafened the city.

287 Dressed as a worshipper288 Procne joined the uproar. With a light spear,289 Vine leaves round her head, and a deer pelt290 Slung over her left shoulder, she became291 A Bacchante, among her attendants. Berserk292 She hurled herself through the darkness, terrifying,

293 As if possessed by the god's frenzy.294 In fact, she was crazy with grief.295 So she found the hidden fort in the forest.296 With howls to the god, her troop tore down the gate,297 And Procne freed her sister, disguised her298 As a Bacchante, and brought her home to the palace.


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299 Philomela felt she might die300 Of sheer fear, when she realised301 She was in the house of her ravisher.302 But Procne,303 Shut in the safety of her own chamber,304 Bared her sister's face and embraced her.

305 Philomela twisted away.306 Shame tortured her.307 She would not look at her sister---308 As if she herself were to blame

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309 For the King's depravity.310 She fixed her eyes on the ground like a madwoman.

311 While her gestures flailed312 Uselessly to tell the gods all313 That Tereus had done to her314 Doubling his cruelty on her body,315 Despoiling her name for ever.316 Procne took her shoulders and shook her.

317 She was out of her mind with anger:318 'Tears can't help us,319 Only the sword320 Or if it exists321 Something more pitiless322 Even than the sword.

323 'O my sister, nothing now324 Can soften325 The death Tereus is going to die.326 Let me see this palace one flame327 And Tereus a blazing insect in it,328 Making it brighter.

329 'Let me break his jaw. Hang him up330 By his tongue and saw it through with a broken knife.331 Then dig his eyes from their holes.332 Give me the strength, you gods,333 To twist his hips and shoulders from their sockets


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334 And butcher the limbs off his trunk

335 'Till his soul for very terror scatter336 Away through a thousand exits.

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337 Let me kill him---Oh! However we kill him338 Our revenge has to be something339 That will appal heaven and hell340 And stupefy the earth.'

341 While Procne raved Itys came in---342 Her demented idea343 Caught hold of his image.344 'The double of his father,' she whispered.345 Silent, her heart ice,346 She saw what had to be done.

347 Nevertheless as he ran to her348 Calling to her, his five-year-old arms349 Pulling at her, to be kissed350 And to kiss her, and chattering lovingly351 Through his loving laughter352 Her heart shrank.

353 Her fury seemed to be holding its breath354 For that moment355 As tears burned her eyes. She felt356 Her love for this child357 Softening her ferocious will---and she turned358 To harden it, staring at her sister's face.

359 Then looked back at Itys360 And again at her sister, crying:361 'He tells me all his love---but she362 Has no tongue to utter a word of hers.363 He can call me mother, but she364 Cannot call me sister.

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365 'This is the man you have married!366 O daughter of Pandion!367 You are your father's shame and his despair.368 To love this monster Tereus, or pity him,369 You must be a monster.370 It is monstrous!'

371 Catching Itys by the arm she gave herself372 No more time to weaken.373 Like a tiger on the banks of the Ganges374 Taking a new-dropped fawn375 She dragged him into a far cellar376 Of the palace.

377 He saw what was coming. He tried378 To clasp her neck screaming: 'Mama, Mama!'379 But staring into his face380 Procne pushed a sword through his chest---381 Then, though that wound was fatal enough,382 Slashed his throat.

383 Now the two sisters384 Ripped the hot little body385 Into pulsating gobbets.386 The room was awash with blood387 As they cooked his remains---some of it388 Gasping in bronze pots, some weeping on spits.

389 A feast followed. Procne invited390 One guest only, her husband.391 She called it a ritual392 Peculiar to her native land

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393 And special for this day, when the wife394 Served her lord, without attendant or servant.

395 Tereus, ignorant and happy,396 Lolled on the throne of his ancestors397 And swallowed, with smiles,398 All his posterity399 As Procne served it up. He was so happy400 He called for his son to join him:


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401 'Where is Itys? Bring him.'402 Procne403 Could not restrain herself any longer.404 This was her moment405 To see him fall helpless onto the spike406 In the pit she had dug for him.

407 'Your son,' she said, 'is here, already.408 He is here, inside,409 He could not be closer to you.'410 Tereus was mystified---411 He suspected some joke, perhaps Itys412 Was hiding under his throne.

413 'Itys,' he called again. 'Come out,414 Show yourself.' The doors banged wide open,415 Philomela burst into the throne-room,416 Her hair and gown bloody. She rushed forward,417 And her dismembering hands, red to the elbows,418 Jammed into the face of Tereus

419 A crimson, dripping ball,420 The head of Itys.

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421 For moments, his brain422 Refused to make sense of any of it.423 But the joy she could not speak424 Philomela released in a scream.

425 Then it was his turn.426 His roar tore itself427 Out of every fibre in his body.428 He heaved the table aside---429 Shouting for the Furies430 To come up out of hell with their snake-heads.

431 He tugged at his rib-cage,432 As if he might rive himself open433 To empty out what he had eaten.434 He staggered about, sobbing435 That he was the tomb of his boy.


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436 Then gripped his sword-hilt and steadied himself

437 As he saw the sisters running.438 Now his bellow439 Was as homicidal440 As it was anguished.441 He came after them and they442 Who had been running seemed to be flying.

443 And suddenly they were flying. One swerved444 On wings into the forest,445 The other, with the blood still on her breast,446 Flew up under the eaves of the palace.447 And Tereus, charging blind448 In his delirium of grief and vengeance,

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449 No longer caring what happened---450 He too was suddenly flying.451 On his head and shoulders a crest of feathers,452 Instead of a sword a long curved beak---453 Like a warrior transfigured454 With battle-frenzy dashing into battle.

455 He had become a hoopoe.456 Philomela457 Mourned in the forest, a nightingale.458 Procne459 Lamented round and round the palace,460 A swallow.

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Pyramus and Thisbe

1 Throughout the East men spoke in awe of Thisbe---2 A girl who had suddenly bloomed


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3 In Babylon, the mud-brick city.

4 The house she had grown up in adjoined5 The house where Pyramus, so many years a boy,6 Brooded bewildered by the moods of manhood.

7 These two, playmates from the beginning,8 Fell in love.9 For angry reasons, no part of the story,

10 The parents of each forbade their child11 To marry the other. That was that.12 But prohibition feeds love,

13 Though theirs needed no feeding. Through signs14 Their addiction to each other15 Was absolute, helpless, terminal.

16 And the worse for being hidden.17 The more smothered their glances, the more18 Agonised the look that leapt the gap.

19 In the shared wall that divided their houses,20 Earth-tremors had opened a fissure.21 For years, neither household had noticed.

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22 But these lovers noticed.23 Love is not blind. And where love cannot peer24 Pure clairvoyance whispers in its ear.

25 This crack, this dusty crawl-space for a spider,26 Became the highway of their love-murmurs.27 Brows to the plaster, lips to the leak of air

28 nd cooking smells from the other interior,29 The lovers kneeled, confessing their passion,30 Sealing their two fates with a fracture.

31 Sometimes they slapped the wall, in frustration:32 'How can a wall be so jealous!33 So deaf to us, so grudging with permission!


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34 'If you can open this far for our voices35 Why not fall wide open, let us kiss,36 Let us join bodies as well as voices.

37 'No, that would be too much. That would mean38 The wall repaired to part us utterly.39 O wall, we are grateful. Nowhere in the world

40 'But in this tiny crack may our great loves,41 Invisibly to us, meet and mingle.'42 Then each would kiss the crack in the cold plaster,

43 Their own side of the wall, with a parting kiss.44 This could not go on for long.45 One day at their confessional, they decided

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46 To obey love and risk everything.47 They made their plan: that night they would somehow48 Escape from their guarded houses,

49 Leave the city, and tryst in the open country---50 Their rendezvous the mulberry tree51 Over the tomb of Ninus, a famous landmark.

52 At this time of the year the tree was loaded53 With its milk-white fruit, that a cool spring54 Made especially plump and succulent.

55 Their plan enthralled them---with the joy it promised.56 A promise that seemed so sure57 No possible snag or snarl, no shadow of an error,

58 No shiver of apprehension troubled it.59 Their sole anxiety was the unrelenting60 Glare of the sun in the day, that seemed to have stopped.

61 But suddenly it was dark.62 Thisbe had oiled the hinges. Now they helped her63 Slip from the house like the shadow of a night-bird


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64 Leaving the house-eaves. The moonlight65 That lit her path from the city66 Found the sparks of her eyes, but not her pallor---

67 Her veil hid all but her eyes from night watchers.68 So she came to the tomb. Sitting in the shadow69 Of the tree dense with fruit

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70 That reflected the moon, like new snow,71 She stared out into the brilliant jumble72 Of moonlight and shadows. She strained

73 To catch the first stirring of a shadow74 That would grow into Pyramus. It was then,75 As she peered and listened,

76 And felt the huge silence, the hanging weight77 Of the moonlit cliff above her,78 And, above the cliff, the prickling stars,

79 That the first fear touched her.80 She froze, her breath shrank, slight as a lizard's.81 Only her eyes moved.

82 She had seen, in her eye-corner, a shadow83 That seemed to have shifted.84 Now she could hear her heart. Her head swivelled.

85 Somebody was walking towards her.86 She stood, she leaned to the tree, her legs trembling.87 She realised she was panting.

88 And almost cried out: 'Pyramus!'89 But at that moment90 The shadow coughed a strange cough---hoarse, cavernous,

91 And was much nearer, moving too swiftly.92 A strangely hobbling dwarf, bent under something.93 Then her brain seemed to turn over.

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94 Plain in the moonlight she saw95 That what had looked like a dwarf96 Was nothing of the kind. A lioness

97 Was slouching directly towards her98 Under its rippling shoulders, coming99 To wash its bloody jaws,

100 And quench its hanging belly, its blood-salt surfeit,101 In the spring beside her.102 Without another thought, Thisbe was running---

103 She left her veil floating104 To settle near the water. She ran, ducking105 Behind the tomb of Ninus, too frightened to scream,

106 And squeezing her eyes shut, squeezed herself107 Into a crevice under the cliff.108 The lioness drank, then found the veil,

109 The perfumed veil perfumed again110 By a woman's excitement, and her fear.111 The beast began to play with the veil---

112 Forepaws tore downwards, jaw ripped upwards.113 And the veil towelled the blood114 From the sodden muzzle, and from the fangs.

115 Soon the beast lost interest116 In this empty skin, so savourless,117 And the beautiful weave was abandoned.

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118 The lioness went off. She was absorbed119 Among the moonlit rocks120 As if she had never happened. Only the veil

121 Waited for Pyramus122 Who now emerged running, his shadow vaulting beside him.


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123 Both stopped at the spring.

124 The lion's footprints, alien, deep, unwelcome,125 Printed the spring's margin.126 Pyramus picked up the veil, too familiar

127 Blackened by blood though it was---128 Blood so fresh and glistening. He groaned,129 Not unlike the lioness

130 But groaning words: 'Did our planning131 Foresee this double death as a fitting132 Finale to our love which was forbidden?

133 'But Thisbe should have escaped the lion and lived.134 I am to blame---for appointing this wild place135 But failing to be here before her.'

136 Then he roared aloud: 'Are there any more lions137 Living in the cliff there?138 Come out and punish a criminal.'

139 He groaned again, to himself:140 'Cowards call for death---but courage141 Does something about it.'

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142 He swayed, weeping into the sticky remnant:143 'Let our blood mingle144 As never in love, in this veil torn by a lion.'

145 He set his sword point to his chest146 And ran at the tree, burying the blade to the hilt,147 Then with his last effort pulled it from the wound.

148 When a lead conduit splits, the compressed water149 Jets like a fountain.150 His blood shot out in bursts, each burst a heartbeat,

151 Showering the fruit of the tree---152 Till the white fruits, now dyed hectic purple,153 Dripped his own blood back onto his body


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154 That spilled the rest of its life, in heavy brimmings,155 To the tree roots that drank it156 And took it up to the fruits, that fattened darker.

157 Thisbe's fear for Pyramus and the lion,158 And, almost worse, the thought that he might have arrived159 And be at the tomb without her

160 Brought her running. But when she saw161 The tree that had been snow-white with its fruit162 Now purple-dark, blackish in the moonlight,

163 Her new fear was that she had lost her bearings164 And come to the wrong place. Then she heard165 A grunting cough in the tree's shadow

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166 And saw the body sprawl, as if in sleep,167 Into the moonlight.168 Now she screamed. Unafraid of the lion

169 Again and again she screamed.170 She embraced his corpse, fierce as any lion,171 More passionately than she had ever dreamed

172 Of embracing it in life. She screamed to him173 To wake up and speak to her.174 His eyes opened a moment, but death

175 Was closing their light as they gazed at her.176 Thisbe looked down at her hand, it was clutching177 The soggy rag of her veil.

178 She saw his scabbard empty. 'It was your love179 That persuaded your own hand to kill you.180 My love is as great, my hand as ready.

181 'Once I am with you182 My story can be told: the cause of your death,183 But your consolation for ever.


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184 'Death has divided us, so it is right185 That death should bring us together186 In an unbreakable wedlock. Parents,

187 'As you find our bodies,188 Limbs entwined, stiffened in a single knot,189 Do not separate us. Burn us as we lived

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190 'In the one flame.191 And you who live on, with your boughs laden,192 Over two stripped of their blossom, their seed and their life,

193 'Remember how we died. Remember us194 By the colour of our blood in your fruit.195 So when men gather your fruit, and crush its ripeness,

196 'Let them think of our deaths.'197 She spoke, then set the point of the warm sword198 Beneath her breast and fell on it.

199 With her last strength she wound him with her arms and legs.

200 The gods were listening and were touched.201 And the gods touched their parents. Ever after202 Mulberries, as they ripen, darken purple.

203 And the two lovers in their love-knot,204 One pile of inseparable ashes,205 Were closed in a single urn.

© Copyright Ted Hughes, 1997, reproduced under licence from Faber and Faber Ltd

Copyright © 1996-2011 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved.


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Tales From Ovid 1999