Verse
Metamorphoses
Book 14, Line 22 by Henry T. Riley (English)
“The space of a year detained us there; and, as I was present for such a length of time, I saw many things; and many things I heard with my ears. This, too, among many other things I heard , which one of the four handmaids appointed for such rites, privately informed me of. For while Circe was passing her time apart with my chief, she pointed out to me a youthful statue made of snow-white marble, carrying a woodpecker on its head, erected in the hallowed temple, and bedecked with many a chaplet. When I asked, and desired to know who he was, and why he was venerated in the sacred temple, and why he carried that bird; she said:— ‘Listen, Macareus, learn hence, too, what is the power of my mistress, and give attention to what I say.’”
MetamorphosesOvidHenry T. RileyEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 14
Book 14, Line 22ProseID metamorphoses-riley-en-prose-14-22