shadow which involved the wide extended earth, and stopped her flight

and ravished in that cloud her chastity.

JUPITER AND IO [3] Meanwhile, the goddess Juno gazing down on earth's expanse, with
wonder saw the clouds as dark as night enfold those middle fields while
day was bright above. She was convinced the clouds were none
OVID, METAMORPHOSES 1 composed of river mist nor raised from marshy fens. Suspicious now, from
oft detected amours of her spouse, she glanced around to find her
TRANS. BY BROOKES MORE absent lord, and quite convinced that he was far from heaven, she thus
exclaimed; “This cloud deceives my mind, or Jove has wronged me.”
[1] There is a grove in Thessaly, enclosed on every side with crags, From the dome of heaven she glided down and stood upon the earth,
precipitous,—on which a forest grows—and this is called the Vale of and bade the clouds recede. But Jove had known the coming of his
Tempe -- through this valley flows the River Peneus, white with foaming queen. He had transformed the lovely Io, so that she appeared a milk
waves, that issue from the foot of Pindus, whence with sudden fall up white heifer—formed so beautiful and fair that envious Juno gazed on her.
gather steamy clouds that sprinkle mist upon the circling trees, and far She queried: “Whose? what herd? what pasture fields?” As if she guessed
away with mighty roar resound. It is the abode, the solitary home, that no knowledge of the truth. And Jupiter, false hearted, said the cow was
mighty River loves, where deep in gloom of rocky cavern, he resides and earth begotten, for he feared his queen might make inquiry of the owner's
rules the flowing waters and the water nymphs abiding there. All rivers of name. Juno implored the heifer as a gift.—what then was left the Father
that land now hasten thither, doubtful to console or flatter Daphne's of the Gods? 'Twould be a cruel thing to sacrifice his own beloved to a
parent: poplar crowned Sperchios, swift Enipeus and the wild Amphrysos, rival's wrath. Although refusal must imply his guilt the shame and love of
old Apidanus and Aeas, with all their kindred streams that wandering her almost prevailed; but if a present of such little worth were now denied
maze and wearied seek the ocean. Inachus alone is absent, hidden in his the sharer of his couch, the partner of his birth, 'twould prove indeed the
cave obscure, deepening his waters with his tears—most wretchedly earth born heifer other than she seemed—and so he gave his mistress up
bewailing, for he deems his daughter Io lost. If she may live or roam a spirit to her.
in the nether shades he dares not even guess but dreads.
[4] Juno regardful of Jove's cunning art, lest he
[2] For Jove not long before had seen her while returning from her father's might change her to her human form, gave
stream, and said; “O virgin, worthy of immortal Jove, although some the unhappy heifer to the charge of Argus,
happy mortal's chosen bride,—behold these shades of overhanging trees, Aristorides, whose head was circled with a
and seek their cool recesses while the sun is glowing in the height of hundred glowing eyes; of which but two did
middle skies—” and as he spoke he pointed out the groves—“But should slumber in their turn whilst all the others kept
the dens of wild beasts frighten you, with safety you may enter the deep on watch and guard. Whichever way he
Juno with Argus and Io
woods, conducted by a God—not with a God of small repute, but in the stood his gaze was fixed on Io—even if he
care of him who holds the heavenly scepter in his hand and fulminates turned away his watchful eyes on Io still
the trackless thunder bolts.—forsake me not! ” For while he spoke she fled, remained. He let her feed by day; but when the sun was under the deep
and swiftly left behind the pasture fields of Lerna, and Lyrcea's arbours, world he shut her up, and tied a rope around her tender neck. She fed
where the trees are planted thickly. But the God called forth a heavy upon green leaves and bitter herbs and on the cold ground slept—too
often bare, she could not rest upon a cushioned couch. She drank the
troubled waters. Hoping aid she tried to stretch imploring arms to Argus,
 but all in vain for now no arms remained; the sound of bellowing was all fared, piping on oaten reeds melodious tunes. Argus, delighted with the
she heard, and she was frightened with her proper voice. Where former charming sound of this new art began; “Whoever thou art, sit with me on
days she loved to roam and sport, she wandered by the banks of Inachus: this stone beneath the trees in cooling shade, whilst browse the tended
there imaged in the stream she saw her horns and, startled, turned and flock abundant herbs; for thou canst see the shade is fit for shepherds.”
fled. And Inachus and all her sister Naiads knew her not, although she
followed them, they knew her not, although she suffered them to touch
her sides and praise her. When the ancient Inachus gathered sweet herbs [7] Wherefore, Mercury sat down beside the keeper and conversed of
and offered them to her, she licked his hands, kissing her father's palms,
various things—passing the laggard hours.—then soothly piped he on the
nor could she more restrain her falling tears. If only words as well as tears
joined reeds to lull those ever watchful eyes asleep; but Argus strove his
would flow, she might implore his aid and tell her name and all her sad
languor to subdue, and though some drowsy eyes might slumber, still were
misfortune; but, instead, she traced in dust the letters of her name with
some that vigil kept. Again he spoke, (for the pipes were yet a recent art)
cloven hoof; and thus her sad estate was known.
“I pray thee tell what chance discovered these.”

[5] “Ah wretched me! ” her father cried; and as he clung around her horns
[8] To him the God, “ A famous Naiad dwelt among the Hamadryads, on the
and neck repeated while she groaned, “Ah wretched me! Art thou my
cold Arcadian summit Nonacris, whose name was Syrinx. Often she
daughter sought in every clime? When lost I could not grieve for thee as
escaped the Gods, that wandered in the groves of sylvan shades, and
now that thou art found; thy sighs instead of words heave up from thy
often fled from Satyrs that pursued. Vowing virginity, in all pursuits she
deep breast, thy longings give me answer. I prepared the nuptial torch
strove to emulate Diana's ways: and as that graceful goddess wears her
and bridal chamber, in my ignorance, since my first hope was for a son in
robe, so Syrinx girded hers that one might well believe Diana there. Even
law; and then I dreamed of children from the match: but now the herd
though her bow were made of horn, Diana's wrought of gold, vet might
may furnish thee a mate, and all thy issue of the herd must be. Oh that a
she well deceive. “Now chanced it Pan. Whose head was girt with prickly
righteous death would end my grief!—it is a dreadful thing to be a God!
pines, espied the Nymph returning from the Lycian Hill, and these words
Behold the lethal gate of death is shut against me, and my growing grief
uttered he”—But Mercury refrained from further speech, and Pan's appeal
must last throughout eternity.” While thus he moaned came starry Argus
remains untold. If he had told it all, the tale of Syrinx would have followed
there, and Io bore from her lamenting father. Thence he led his charge to
thus:—but she despised the prayers of Pan, and fled through pathless
other pastures; and removed from her, upon a lofty mountain sat, whence
wilds until she had arrived the placid Ladon's sandy stream, whose waves
he could always watch her, undisturbed.
prevented her escape. There she implored her sister Nymphs to change
her form: and Pan, believing he had caught her, held instead some marsh
[6] The sovereign god no longer could endure to witness Io's woes. He called reeds for the body of the Nymph; and while he sighed the moving winds
his son, whom Maia brightest of the Pleiades brought forth, and bade him began to utter plaintive music in the reeds, so sweet and voice like that
slay the star eyed guard, argus. He seized his sleep compelling wand and poor Pan exclaimed; “Forever this discovery shall remain a sweet
fastened waving wings on his swift feet, communion binding thee to me.”—and this explains why reeds of different
and deftly fixed his brimmed hat on his length, when joined together by cementing wax, derive the name of
head:—lo, Mercury, the favoured son of Syrinx from the maid.
Jove, descending to the earth from
heaven's plains, put off his cap and [9] Such words the bright god Mercury would say; but now perceiving Argus'
wings,—though still retained his wand with
eyes were dimmed in languorous doze, he hushed his voice and touched
which he drove through pathless wilds
Mercury with Argus the drooping eyelids with his magic wand, compelling slumber. Then
some stray she goats, and as a shepherd
 without delay he struck the sleeper with his crescent sword, where neck temples with his mother in that land. Now Phaethon, whose father was the
and head unite, and hurled his head, blood dripping, down the rocks and Sun, was equal to his rival, Epaphus, in mind and years; and he was glad
rugged cliff. Low lies Argus: dark is the light of all his hundred eyes, his to boast of wonders, nor would yield to Epaphus for pride of Phoebus, his
many orbed lights extinguished in the universal gloom that night surrounds; reputed sire. Unable to endure it, Io's son thus mocked him; “Poor,
but Saturn's daughter spread their glister on the feathers of her bird, demented fellow, what will you not credit if your mother speaks, you are
emblazoning its tail with starry gems. so puffed up with the fond conceit of your imagined sire, the Lord of Day.”

[10] Juno made haste, inflamed with [13] Shame crimsoned in his cheeks, but Phaethon withholding rage,
towering rage, to vent her wrath on Io; reported all the taunts of Epaphus to Clymene his mother: “'Twill grieve
and she raised in thought and vision of you, mother, I, the bold and free, was silent; and it shames me to report
the Grecian girl a dreadful Fury. Stings this dark reproach remains unchallenged. Oh, if I am born of race divine,
invisible, and pitiless, she planted in her give proof of that illustrious descent and claim my right to Heaven.”
breast, and drove her wandering Around his mother's neck he drew his arms, and by the head of Merops,
throughout the globe. The utmost limit of and by his own, and by the nuptial torch of his beloved sisters, he
her laboured way, O Nile, thou didst implored for some true token of his origin.
remain. Which, having reached, and
[14] Or moved by Phaethon's importuned words, or by the grievous
Mercury kills Argus placed her tired knees on that river's
edge, she laid her there, and as she
charge, who might declare? She raised her arms to Heaven, and gazing
raised her neck looked upward to the stars, and groaned and wept and
full upon the broad sun said; “I swear to you by yonder orb, so radiant and
mournfully bellowed: trying thus to plead, by all the means she had, that
bright, which both beholds and hears us while we speak, that you are his
Jupiter might end her miseries. Repentant Jove embraced his consort,
begotten son.—You are the child of that great light which sways the
and entreated her to end the punishment: “Fear not,” he said, “For she
world: and if I have not spoken what is true, let not mine eyes behold his
shall trouble thee no more.” He spoke, and called on bitter Styx to hear his
countenance, and let this fatal moment be the last that I shall look upon
oath.
the light of day! Nor will it weary you, my son, to reach your father's
dwelling; for the very place where he appears at dawn is near our land.
[11] And now imperial Juno, pacified, permitted Io to resume her form,—at Go, if it please you, and the very truth learn from your father.” Instantly
once the hair fell from her snowy sides; the horns absorbed, her dilate orbs sprang forth exultant Phaethon. Overjoyed with words so welcome, he
decreased; the opening of her jaws contracted; hands appeared and imagined he could leap and touch the skies. And so he passed his land of
shoulders; and each transformed hoof became five nails. And every mark Ethiopia, and the Indies, hot beneath the tawny sun, and there he turned
or form that gave the semblance of a heifer changed, except her fair his footsteps to his father's Land of Dawn.
white skin; and the glad Nymph was raised erect and stood upon her feet.
But long the very thought of speech, that she might bellow as a heifer,
filled her mind with terror, till the words so long forgot for some sufficient
cause were tried once more. -- E N D --

[12] And since that time, the linen wearing throng of Egypt have adored
her as a God; for they believe the seed of Jove prevailed; and when her
time was due she bore to him a son called Epaphus; who also dwells in