Met by the goddess there with open arms,

She bribed my stay with more than human charms;

Nay, promised, vainly promised, to bestow

Immortal life, exempt from age and woe;

But all her blandishments successless prove,

To banish from my breast my country’s love.

I stay reluctant seven continued years,

And water her ambrosial couch with tears,

The eighth she voluntary moves to part,

Or urged by Jove, or her own changeful heart.

A raft was formed to cross the surging sea;

Herself supplied the stores and rich array,

And gave the gales to waft me on my way,

In seventeen days appear’d your pleasing coast,

And woody mountains half in vapours lost.

Joy touched my soul; my soul was joy’d in vain,

For angry Neptune roused the raging main;

The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar;

The splitting raft the furious tempest tore;

And storms vindictive intercept the shore.

Soon as their rage subsides, the seas I brave

With naked force, and shoot along the wave,

To reach this isle; but there my hopes were lost,

The surge impell’d me on a craggy coast.

I chose the safer sea, and chanced to find

A river’s mouth impervious to the wind,

And clear of rocks. I fainted by the flood;

Then took the shelter of the neighbouring wood.

’Twas night, and, covered in the foliage deep,

Jove plunged my senses in the death of sleep.

All night I slept, oblivious of my pain:

Aurora dawned and Phœbus shined in vain,

Nor, till oblique he sloped his evening ray,

Had Somnus dried the balmy dews away.

Then female voices from the shore I heard:

A maid amidst them, goddess-like appear’d;

To her I sued, she pitied my distress;

Like thee in beauty, nor in virtue less.

Who from such youth could hope considerate care?

In youth and beauty wisdom is but rare!

She gave me life, relieved with just supplies

My wants, and lent these robes that strike your eyes.

This is the truth: and oh, ye powers on high!