The Fable of Dryope



9:406 She said, and for her lost Galanthis sighs;
9:407 When the fair consort of her son replies;
9:408 Since you a servant's ravish'd form bemoan,
9:409 And kindly sigh for sorrows not your own,
9:410 Let me (if tears and grief permit) relate
9:411 A nearer woe, a sister's stranger fate.

9:412 No nymph of all Oechaloa could compare
9:413 For beauteous form with Dryope the fair;
9:414 Her tender mother's only hope and pride
9:415 (My self the offspring of a second bride),
9:416 This nymph, compress'd by him who rules the day,
9:417 Whom Delphi, and the Delian isle obey,
9:418 Andraemon lov'd; and blest in all those charms
9:419 That pleas'd a God, succeeded to her arms.

9:420 A lake there was, with shelving banks around,
9:421 Whose verdant summit fragrant myrtles crown'd.
9:422 Those shades, unknowing of the fates, she sought;
9:423 And to the Naiads flow'ry garlands brought;
9:424 Her smiling babe (a pleasing charge) she prest
9:425 Between her arms, and nourish'd at her breast.
9:426 Not distant far a watry lotos grows;
9:427 The Spring was new, and all the verdant boughs,
9:428 Acorn'd with blossoms, promis'd fruits that vye
9:429 In glowing colours with the Tyrian dye.
9:430 Of these she cropt, to please her infant son,
9:431 And I my self the same rash act had done,
9:432 But, lo! I saw (as near her side I stood)
9:433 The violated blossoms drop with blood;
9:434 Upon the tree I cast a frightful look,
9:435 The trembling tree with sudden horror shook.
9:436 Lotis the nymph (if rural tales be true)
9:437 As from Priapus' lawless lust she flew,
9:438 Forsook her form; and fixing here became
9:439 A flow'ry plant, which still preserves her name.

9:440 This change unknown, astonish'd at the sight,
9:441 My trembling sister strove to urge her flight;
9:442 Yet first the pardon of the Nymphs implor'd,
9:443 And those offended Sylvan pow'rs ador'd:
9:444 But when she backward would have fled, she found
9:445 Her stiff'ning feet were rooted to the ground:
9:446 In vain to free her fasten'd feet she strove,
9:447 And as she struggles only moves above;
9:448 She feels th' incroaching bark around her grow,
9:449 By slow degrees, and cover all below:
9:450 Surpriz'd at this, her trembling hand she heaves
9:451 To rend her hair; her hand is fill'd with leaves;
9:452 Where late was hair, the shooting leaves are seen
9:453 To rise, and shade her with a sudden green.
9:454 The Child Amphisus, to her bosom prest,
9:455 Perceiv'd a colder and a harder breast,
9:456 And found the springs, that n'er 'till then deny'd
9:457 Their milky moisture, on a sudden dry'd.
9:458 I saw, unhappy, what I now relate,
9:459 And stood the helpless witness of thy fate;
9:460 Embrac'd thy boughs, the rising bark delay'd,
9:461 There wish'd to grow, and mingle shade with shade.

9:462 Behold Andraemon, and th' unhappy sire
9:463 Appear, and for their Dryope enquire;
9:464 A springing tree for Dryope they find,
9:465 And print warm kisses on the panting rind;
9:466 Prostrate, with tears their kindred plant bedew,
9:467 And close embrac'd, as to the roots they grew;
9:468 The face was all that now remain'd of thee;
9:469 No more a woman, nor yet quite a tree:
9:470 Thy branches hung with humid pearls appear,
9:471 From ev'ry leaf distills a trickling tear;
9:472 And strait a voice, while yet a voice remains,
9:473 Thus thro' the trembling boughs in sighs complains.

9:474 If to the wretched any faith be giv'n,
9:475 I swear by all th' unpitying Pow'rs of Heav'n,
9:476 No wilful crime this heavy vengeance bred,
9:477 In mutual innocence our lives we led.
9:478 If this be false, let these new greens decay,
9:479 Let sounding axes lop my limbs away,
9:480 And crackling flames on all my honours prey.
9:481 Now from my branching arms this infant bear,
9:482 Let some kind nurse supply a mother's care;
9:483 Yet to his mother let him oft be led,
9:484 Sport in her shades, and in her shades be fed;
9:485 Teach him, when first his infant voice shall frame
9:486 Imperfect words, and lisp his mother's name,
9:487 To hail this tree, and say with weeping eyes,
9:488 Within this plant my hapless parent lies;
9:489 And when in youth he seeks the shady woods,
9:490 Oh, let him fly the chrystal lakes and floods,
9:491 Nor touch the fatal flow'rs; but warn'd by me,
9:492 Believe a Goddess shrin'd in ev'ry tree.
9:493 My sire, my sister, and my spouse farewel!
9:494 If in your breasts or love, or pity, dwell,
9:495 Protect your plant, nor let my branches feel
9:496 The browzing cattle, or the piercing steel.
9:497 Farewel! and since I cannot bend to join
9:498 My lips to yours, advance at least to mine.
9:499 My son, thy mother's parting kiss receive,
9:500 While yet thy mother has a kiss to give.
9:501 I can no more; the creeping rind invades
9:502 My closing lips, and hides my head in shades:
9:503 Remove your hands; the bark shall soon suffice,
9:504 Without their aid, to seal these dying eyes.
9:505 She ceas'd at once to speak, and ceas'd to be;
9:506 And all the nymph was lost within the tree:
9:507 Yet latent life thro' her new branches reign'd,
9:508 And long the plant a human heat retain'd.