TheconcubineofoldTithonusnow

Gleamedwhiteupontheeasternbalcony,

Forthfromthearmsofhersweetparamour;

Withgemsherforeheadallrelucentwas,

Setintheshapeofthatcoldanimal

Whichwithitstaildothsmiteamainthenations,

Andofthesteps, withwhichshemounts, theNight

Hadtakentwointhatplacewherewewere,

Andnowthethirdwasbendingdownitswings;

WhenI, whosomethinghadofAdaminme,

Vanquishedbysleep, uponthegrassreclined,

Therewereallfiveofusalreadysat.

Justatthehourwhenhersadlaybegins

Thelittleswallow, nearuntothemorning,

Perchanceinmemoryofherformerwoes,

Andwhenthemindofman, awanderer

Morefromtheflesh, andlessbythoughtimprisoned,

Almostpropheticinitsvisionsis,

IndreamsitseemedtomeIsawsuspended

Aneagleinthesky, withplumesofgold,

Withwingswideopen, andintenttostoop,

Andthis, itseemedtome, waswherehadbeen

ByGanymedehiskithandkinabandoned,

Whentothehighconsistoryhewasrapt.

Ithoughtwithinmyself, perchancehestrikes

Fromhabitonlyhere, andfromelsewhere

Disdainstobearupanyinhisfeet.

Thenwheelingsomewhatmore, itseemedtome,

Terribleasthelightninghedescended,

Andsnatchedmeupwardeventothefire.

ThereinitseemedthatheandIwereburning,

Andtheimaginedfiredidscorchmeso,

Thatofnecessitymysleepwasbroken.

NototherwiseAchillesstartedup,

Aroundhimturninghisawakenedeyes,

Andknowingnottheplaceinwhichhewas,

WhattimefromChironstealthilyhismother

CarriedhimsleepinginherarmstoScyros,

WherefromtheGreekswithdrewhimafterwards,

ThanIupstarted, whenfromoffmyface