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And, if thou wilt, by thee this word be said, 'Here lies my love, my beautiful is dead.' And let this epitaph mine end recall,

Just at the last I scratch it on thy wall:

'Love slew him: stop and say, who here is laid

Well but not wisely loved a cruel maid.'”

Then in the doorway for its cruel use

He set a stone; he fitted next the noose;
Put in his neck, and eagerly he sped,

Spurning the stone away-and swung there dead.
But when she saw the corse her doorway kept,
She was not moved in spirit, nor she wept:
She felt no ruth, but, scornful to the last,
She spat upon the body, as she past;
And careless went to bathe her and adorn,
Where stood a statue of the god, her scorn.
From the bath's marble edge whereon it stood,
The statue leapt and slew her: with her blood
The water was impurpled, and the sound

: --

Of the girl's dying accent swam around:
"Ah lovers! she that scorned true love is slain;
Love is revengeful: when loved, love again."

13

IDYL XXIV.

THE INFANT HERCULES.

ARGUMENT.

In this Idyl the first contest and victory of Hercules is described. While yet an infant he strangles two dragons sent by Hera to destroy him. Alcmena, alarmed at this prodigy, consults the famous seer, Tiresias, who informs her that Hercules is fated in his life-time to obtain the highest renown for extraordinary exploits, and after his death to be numbered among the gods. He desires her to have the dragons burned, and the house purified in the accustomed manner. The poem ends abruptly, and it is thought that the conclusion has been lost.

IDYL XXIV.

THE INFANT HERCULES.

ALCMENA having washed her twin delight,
Her Hercules, who then was ten months old,

And her Iphicles, younger by a night,

Gave them the breast, then laid them in the hold Of a brass-shield won by Amphitryon bold

The spoil of Pterelas in battle slain ;

And, touching either head, her blessing told:

66

Sleep, healthful sleep enjoy my blessed twain; Sleep happy happy wake at coming dawn again."

And with these words she rocked the mighty shield,
And sleep came over them: in the midnight,
What time the Bear, watching Orion's field,
(Who then his shoulder shews uprising bright,)

To setting turns, vex'd Hera's wily spite,
With many threats of her revengeful ire,
To eat the infant Hercules outright,

Sent to the chamber-door two monsters dire,
Each bristling horribly with his dark-gleaming spire.

They their blood-gorging bellies on the ground
Uncoiling rolled; their eyes shot baleful flame,
And evermore they spat their poison round;
But when, quick brandishing with evil aim
Their forked tongues, they to the children came,
They both awoke: (what can escape Jove's eye?)
Light in the chamber shone; and who can blame
Or wonder that Iphicles did outcry,

Screaming, when he did their remorseless teeth espy?

He kicked aside the woollen coverlet,

Struggling to flee; but Hercules comprest, Relaxing not the gripe his hand did get, With a firm grasp the throat of either pest, Where is their poison, which e'en gods detest. The boy, that in the birth was long confined, Who ne'er was known to cry, though at the breast A suckling yet, they with their coils entwined: Infolding him they strained their own release to find,

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