Ovid's Metamorphoses: translated by eminent persons. Published by Sir Samuel Garth.

  • Ovid, 43 B.C.-17 A.D. or 18 A.D.
Date:
1794
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ovid's Metamorphoses: translated by eminent persons. Published by Sir Samuel Garth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    THE TRANSFORMATION OF TIRESIAS. ’Twas now, while these transactions past on earth, And Bacchus thus procur’d a second birth, 405 When Jove, dispos’d to lay aside the weight Of public empire, and the cares of state, As to his queen in nectar bowls he quaff’d : u In troth, says he, and as he spoke he laugh’d, u The sense of pleasure in the male is far 410 ct More dull and dead, than what you females share Juno the truth of what was said deny’d; Tiresias therefore must the cause decide, C For he the pleasure of each sex had try’d, ) It happen’d once, within a shady wood, 4I5 Two twisted snakes he in conjunction view’d, When wiih his staff their slimy folds he broke, And lost his manhood at the fatal stroke. But, after sev’n revolving years he view’d The self same serpents in the self-same wood ; 420 *c And if, says he, such virtue in you lie, \ “ That he who dares your slimy folds untie v 4C Must change his kind, a second stroke I’ll try.” j Again he struck the snakes, and stood again New-sex’d, and straight recovered into man. 425 Him. therefore both the deities create The sov’reign umpire, in their grand debate ; And he declar’d for Jove: When Juno fir’d. More than so trivial an affair requir’d,