the air
  To Ida’s mount with rilling waters vein’d,
  Parent of savage beasts; at Lectos[7] first
  They quitted Ocean, overpassing high 340
  The dry land, while beneath their feet the woods
  Their spiry summits waved.  There, unperceived
  By Jove, Sleep mounted Ida’s loftiest pine
  Of growth that pierced the sky, and hidden sat
  Secure by its expanded boughs, the bird 345
  Shrill-voiced resembling in the mountains seen,[8]
  Chalcis in heaven, on earth Cymindis named. 
    But Juno swift to Gargarus the top
  Of Ida, soar’d, and there Jove saw his spouse. 
  —­Saw her—­and in his breast the same love felt 350
  Rekindled vehement, which had of old
  Join’d them, when, by their parents unperceived,
  They stole aside, and snatch’d their first embrace. 
  Soon he accosted her, and thus inquired. 
    Juno! what region seeking hast thou left 355
  The Olympian summit, and hast here arrived
  With neither steed nor chariot in thy train? 
    To whom majestic Juno thus replied
  Dissembling.  To the green earth’s end I go,
  To visit there the parent of the Gods 360
  Oceanus, and Tethys his espoused,
  Mother of all.  They kindly from the hands
  Of Rhea took, and with parental care
  Sustain’d and cherish’d me;[9] to them I haste
  Their feuds innumerable to compose, 365
  Who disunited by intestine strife
  Long time, from conjugal embrace abstain. 
  My steeds, that lightly over dank and dry
  Shall bear me, at the rooted base I left
  Of Ida river-vein’d.  But for thy sake 370
  From the Olympian summit I arrive,
  Lest journeying remote to the abode
  Of Ocean, and with no consent of thine
  Entreated first, I should, perchance, offend. 
    To whom the cloud-assembler God replied. 375
  Juno! thy journey thither may be made
  Hereafter.  Let us turn to dalliance now. 
  For never Goddess pour’d, nor woman yet
  So full a tide of love into my breast;
  I never loved Ixion’s consort thus 380
  Who bore Pirithoues, wise as we in heaven;
  Nor sweet Acrisian Danaee, from whom
  Sprang Perseus, noblest of the race of man;
  Nor Phoenix’ daughter fair,[10] of whom were born
  Minos unmatch’d but by the powers above, 385
  And Rhadamanthus; nor yet Semele,
  Nor yet Alcmena, who in Thebes produced
  The valiant Hercules; and though my son
  By Semele were Bacchus, joy of man;
  Nor Ceres golden-hair’d, nor high-enthroned 390
  Latona in the skies, no—­nor thyself
  As now I love thee, and my soul perceive
  O’erwhelm’d with sweetness of intense desire. 
    Then thus majestic Juno her