The Metamorphoses, in Engl. blank verse, tr. by J.J. Howard

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1807 Excerpt: ...once exclaim'd,--O, dearest spouse, farewell!--"At once the bark, their lips thus speaking, clos'd. "Ev'n yet a Tyanaean shews two trees "Of neighbouring growth, form'd from the alter'd pair. "Nor dotard credulous, nor lying tongue "The fact to me related. On the boughs "Myself have seen the votive garlands hung; "And whilst I offered fresher, have I said--"Heaven guards the good with care; and those who give u The gods due honors, honors claim themselves." He ceas'd: the deed and author all admire, But Theseus most; whom anxious still to hear More wondrous actions of the mighty gods, The stream of Calydon, as on his arm Reclin'd, he rested, in these words address'd:--"There are, O, valiant youth! of those once chang'd, "Still in the new-form'd figures who remain: "Others there are whose power more wide extends "To many shapes to alter.--Proteus, thou "Art one; thou'habitant of those wide waves "Which earth begird: now thou a youth appear'st; "And now a lion; then a furious boar; "A serpent next we tremble to approach; "And then with threatening horns thou seem'st a bull. "Oft as a stone thou ly'st; oft stand'st a tree: "Sometimes thy countenance veil'd in fluid streams, "Thou flow'st a river; sometimes mount'st in flames. "Nor less of power had Erisichthon's maid, "Spouse of Autolycus. Her impious sire "All the divinities of heaven despis'd, "Nor on their slighted altars offerings bum'd. "He too, 'tis said, the Cerealean grove With axe prophan'd: his violating steel The ancient trees attacking. 'Mid the rest, A huge-grown oak, in yearly strength robust, Itself a wood, uprose: garlands hung round, And wreaths, and grateful tablet...