The Story of Achelous and Hercules
9:1 Theseus requests the God to tell his woes,
9:2 Whence his maim'd brow, and whence
his groans arose
9:3 Whence thus the Calydonian stream
reply'd,
9:4 With twining reeds his careless tresses
ty'd:
9:5 Ungrateful is the tale; for who can
bear,
9:6 When conquer'd, to rehearse the shameful
war?
9:7 Yet I'll the melancholy story trace;
9:8 So great a conqu'ror softens the
disgrace:
9:9 Nor was it still so mean the prize
to yield,
9:10 As great, and glorious to dispute
the field.
9:11 Perhaps you've heard of Deianira's
name,
9:12 For all the country spoke her beauty's
fame.
9:13 Long was the nymph by num'rous
suitors woo'd,
9:14 Each with address his envy'd hopes
pursu'd:
9:15 I joyn'd the loving band; to gain
the fair,
9:16 Reveal'd my passion to her father's
ear.
9:17 Their vain pretensions all the
rest resign,
9:18 Alcides only strove to equal mine;
9:19 He boasts his birth from Jove,
recounts his spoils,
9:20 His step-dame's hate subdu'd, and
finish'd toils.
9:21 Can mortals then (said I), with Gods compare?
9:22 Behold a God; mine is the watry
care:
9:23 Through your wide realms I take
my mazy way,
9:24 Branch into streams, and o'er the
region stray:
9:25 No foreign guest your daughter's
charms adores,
9:26 But one who rises in your native
shores.
9:27 Let not his punishment your pity
move;
9:28 Is Juno's hate an argument for
love?
9:29 Though you your life from fair
Alcmena drew,
9:30 Jove's a feign'd father, or by
fraud a true.
9:31 Chuse then; confess thy mother's
honour lost,
9:32 Or thy descent from Jove no longer
boast.
9:33 While thus I spoke, he look'd with stern disdain,
9:34 Nor could the sallies of his wrath
restrain,
9:35 Which thus break forth. This arm
decides our right;
9:36 Vanquish in words, be mine the
prize in fight.
9:37 Bold he rush'd on. My honour to maintain,
9:38 I fling my verdant garments on
the plain,
9:39 My arms stretch forth, my pliant
limbs prepare,
9:40 And with bent hands expect the
furious war.
9:41 O'er my sleek skin now gather'd
dust he throws,
9:42 And yellow sand his mighty muscles
strows.
9:43 Oft he my neck, and nimble legs
assails,
9:44 He seems to grasp me, but as often
fails.
9:45 Each part he now invades with eager
hand;
9:46 Safe in my bulk, immoveable I stand.
9:47 So when loud storms break high,
and foam and roar
9:48 Against some mole that stretches
from the shore;
9:49 The firm foundation lasting tempests
braves,
9:50 Defies the warring winds, and driving
waves.
9:51 A-while we breathe, then forward rush amain,
9:52 Renew the combat, and our ground
maintain;
9:53 Foot strove with foot, I prone
extend my breast,
9:54 Hands war with hands, and forehead
forehead prest.
9:55 Thus have I seen two furious bulls
engage,
9:56 Inflam'd with equal love, and equal
rage;
9:57 Each claims the fairest heifer
of the grove,
9:58 And conquest only can decide their
love:
9:59 The trembling herds survey the
fight from far,
9:60 'Till victory decides th' important
war.
9:61 Three times in vain he strove my
joints to wrest,
9:62 To force my hold, and throw me
from his breast;
9:63 The fourth he broke my gripe, that
clasp'd him round,
9:64 Then with new force he stretch'd
me on the ground;
9:65 Close to my back the mighty burthen
clung,
9:66 As if a mountain o'er my limbs
were flung.
9:67 Believe my tale; nor do I, boastful,
aim
9:68 By feign'd narration to extol my
fame.
9:69 No sooner from his grasp I freedom
get,
9:70 Unlock my arms, that flow'd with
trickling sweat,
9:71 But quick he seized me, and renew'd
the strife,
9:72 As my exhausted bosom pants for
life:
9:73 My neck he gripes, my knee to earth
he strains;
9:74 I fall, and bite the sand with
shame, and pains.
9:75 O'er-match'd in strength, to wiles, and arts
I take,
9:76 And slip his hold, in form of speckled
snake;
9:77 Who, when I wreath'd in spires
my body round,
9:78 Or show'd my forky tongue with
hissing sound,
9:79 Smiles at my threats: Such foes
my cradle knew,
9:80 He cries, dire snakes my infant
hand o'erthrew;
9:81 A dragon's form might other conquests
gain,
9:82 To war with me you take that shape
in vain.
9:83 Art thou proportion'd to the Hydra's
length,
9:84 Who by his wounds receiv'd augmented
strength?
9:85 He rais'd a hundred hissing heads
in air;
9:86 When one I lopt, up-sprung a dreadful
pair.
9:87 By his wounds fertile, and with
slaughter strong,
9:88 Singly I quell'd him, and stretch'd
dead along.
9:89 What canst thou do, a form precarious,
prone,
9:90 To rouse my rage with terrors not
thy own?
9:91 He said; and round my neck his
hands he cast,
9:92 And with his straining fingers
wrung me fast;
9:93 My throat he tortur'd, close as
pincers clasp,
9:94 In vain I strove to loose the forceful
grasp.
9:95 Thus vanquish'd too, a third form still remains,
9:96 Chang'd to a bull, my lowing fills
the plains.
9:97 Strait on the left his nervous
arms were thrown
9:98 Upon my brindled neck, and tugg'd
it down;
9:99 Then deep he struck my horn into
the sand,
9:100 And fell'd my bulk among the
dusty land.
9:101 Nor yet his fury cool'd; 'twixt
rage and scorn,
9:102 From my maim'd front he tore
the stubborn horn:
9:103 This, heap'd with flow'rs, and
fruits, the Naiads bear,
9:104 Sacred to plenty, and the bounteous
year.
9:105 He spoke; when lo, a beauteous nymph appears,
9:106 Girt like Diana's train, with
flowing hairs;
9:107 The horn she brings in which
all Autumn's stor'd,
9:108 And ruddy apples for the second
board.
9:109 Now morn begins to dawn, the
sun's bright fire
9:110 Gilds the high mountains, and
the youths retire;
9:111 Nor stay'd they, 'till the troubled
stream subsides,
9:112 And in its bounds with peaceful
current glides.
9:113 But Achelous in his oozy bed
9:114 Deep hides his brow deform'd,
and rustick head:
9:115 No real wound the victor's triumph show'd,
9:116 But his lost honours griev'd
the watry God;
9:117 Yet ev'n that loss the willow's
leaves o'erspread,
9:118 And verdant reeds, in garlands,
bind his head.