'Metamorphoses: Book The Fourteenth' by Ovid


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NOW Glaucus, with a lover's haste, bounds o'er
The swelling waves, and seeks the Latian shore.
Messena, Rhegium, and the barren coast
Of flaming Aetna, to his sight are lost:
At length he gains the Tyrrhene seas, and views
The hills where baneful philters Circe brews;
Monsters, in various forms, around her press;
As thus the God salutes the sorceress.
The O Circe, be indulgent to my grief,
Transformation And give a love-sick deity relief.
of Scylla Too well the mighty pow'r of plants I know,
To those my figure, and new Fate I owe.
Against Messena, on th' Ausonian coast,
I Scylla view'd, and from that hour was lost.
In tend'rest sounds I su'd; but still the fair
Was deaf to vows, and pityless to pray'r.
If numbers can avail, exert their pow'r;
Or energy of plants, if plants have more.
I ask no cure; let but the virgin pine
With dying pangs, or agonies, like mine.
No longer Circe could her flame disguise,
But to the suppliant God marine, replies:
When maids are coy, have manlier aims in view;
Leave those that fly, but those that like, pursue.
If love can be by kind compliance won;
See, at your feet, the daughter of the Sun.
Sooner, said Glaucus, shall the ash remove
From mountains, and the swelling surges love;
Or humble sea-weed to the hills repair;
E'er I think any but my Scylla fair.
Strait Circe reddens with a guilty shame,
And vows revenge for her rejected flame.
Fierce liking oft a spight as fierce creates;
For love refus'd, without aversion, hates.
To hurt her hapless rival she proceeds;
And, by the fall of Scylla, Glaucus bleeds.
Some fascinating bev'rage now she brews;
Compos'd of deadly drugs, and baneful juice.
At Rhegium she arrives; the ocean braves,
And treads with unwet feet the boiling waves.
Upon the beach a winding bay there lies,
Shelter'd from seas, and shaded from the skies:
This station Scylla chose: a soft retreat
From chilling winds, and raging Cancer's heat.
The vengeful sorc'ress visits this recess;
Her charm infuses, and infects the place.
Soon as the nymph wades in, her nether parts
Turn into dogs; then at her self she starts.
A ghastly horror in her eyes appears;
But yet she knows not, who it is she fears;
In vain she offers from her self to run,
And drags about her what she strives to shun.
.
The End of the Fourteenth Book.


Translated into English verse under the direction of
Sir Samuel Garth by John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Joseph Addison,
William Congreve and other eminent hands

Editor 1 Interpretation

Metamorphoses: Book The Fourteenth

Ovid's Metamorphoses is a classic poem that tells the stories of various mythological figures and their transformative experiences. Book The Fourteenth is one of the most fascinating parts of this epic poem, as it focuses on the stories of Pygmalion, Myrrha, Venus and Adonis, and Atalanta.

At first glance, these stories may seem disconnected, but upon closer examination, they are all linked by the themes of love, desire, and transformation. In this literary criticism and interpretation of Metamorphoses: Book The Fourteenth, we will explore how Ovid weaves these themes into his poetry, and how he uses each story to explore different aspects of human nature.

Pygmalion

The first story in Book The Fourteenth is that of Pygmalion, a sculptor who creates a statue of a woman so perfect that he falls in love with it. Pygmalion's obsession with his creation is a clear metaphor for the power of desire and the human need for perfection.

Pygmalion's transformation of the statue into a living woman is a classic example of Ovid's use of metamorphosis as a symbol of transformation. The act of bringing the statue to life is a representation of the power of desire to transform reality.

But while Pygmalion's transformation is a triumph of desire, it also carries a warning about the dangers of obsession. Pygmalion's love for his statue blinds him to the reality of the world around him, and his attempts to force the statue into submission ultimately lead to his own destruction.

Myrrha

The second story in Book The Fourteenth is that of Myrrha, a woman who becomes so consumed by desire for her own father that she is transformed into a tree. This story is a stark contrast to the first one, as it shows the destructive power of desire when it is not tempered by reason.

Myrrha's transformation into a tree is a metaphor for the way desire can consume us and leave us unable to move or act freely. Her story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked passion, and it serves as a warning to readers about the need to control their own desires.

Venus and Adonis

The third story in Book The Fourteenth is that of Venus and Adonis, two lovers whose relationship is ultimately doomed by Adonis' recklessness. Their story is a powerful exploration of the nature of desire, and how it can both bring us joy and cause us pain.

Venus' love for Adonis is a force of nature, and her attempts to protect him from harm are a reminder of the lengths we will go to protect those we love. But Adonis' recklessness ultimately leads to his own destruction, and his tragic end reminds us of the need to be cautious in the face of our desires.

Atalanta

The final story in Book The Fourteenth is that of Atalanta, a fierce hunter who is unwilling to marry any man who cannot defeat her in a race. Atalanta's story is a powerful exploration of the nature of gender and power, and how they intersect in the world of myth.

Atalanta's refusal to marry is a symbol of her independence and her refusal to conform to traditional gender roles. But her eventual defeat by Hippomenes, who uses trickery to win the race, reminds us of the limitations of power and the ways in which it can be used to manipulate others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ovid's Metamorphoses: Book The Fourteenth is a powerful exploration of the themes of love, desire, and transformation. Through the stories of Pygmalion, Myrrha, Venus and Adonis, and Atalanta, Ovid shows us the power of desire to transform our lives, and the dangers of letting it consume us.

But while Ovid's stories are cautionary tales, they are also celebrations of the power of human nature. They remind us that our desires are what make us human, and that it is through our struggles with them that we can truly grow and transform.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Metamorphoses: Book The Fourteenth by Ovid is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This masterpiece is a collection of stories that revolve around the theme of transformation. The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the story of Scylla and the second part on the story of Glaucus.

The story of Scylla is a tragic one. Scylla was a beautiful nymph who lived in a cave by the sea. She was loved by the sea god Glaucus, but she did not return his love. Instead, she fell in love with the mortal warrior Minos. Glaucus, in a fit of jealousy, went to the sorceress Circe and asked her to help him win Scylla's love.

Circe, who was also in love with Glaucus, agreed to help him. She prepared a potion that would transform Scylla into a monster with six heads and twelve feet. When Scylla saw her reflection in the water, she was horrified and fled from her cave. She became a terror to sailors, and many ships were destroyed by her.

The story of Scylla is a cautionary tale about the dangers of jealousy and the consequences of seeking revenge. Glaucus' jealousy led him to seek the help of a sorceress, and the result was the transformation of the woman he loved into a monster. The story also highlights the power of transformation, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

The second part of the poem focuses on the story of Glaucus. Glaucus was a fisherman who one day caught a fish that spoke to him. The fish told Glaucus that he was once a mortal, but he had eaten a magical herb that had transformed him into a sea god. The fish gave Glaucus the herb, and he ate it, hoping to become a sea god himself.

The herb had the desired effect, and Glaucus became a sea god. However, he soon realized that he could not leave the sea and return to his mortal life. He fell in love with the nymph Scylla, but she rejected him because of his appearance. Glaucus then went to the sorceress Circe and asked her to help him win Scylla's love.

Circe, who was still in love with Glaucus, agreed to help him. She prepared a potion that would transform Scylla into a monster with six heads and twelve feet. When Glaucus saw what had happened to Scylla, he was horrified and fled from her.

The story of Glaucus is a cautionary tale about the dangers of seeking power and the consequences of using magic for personal gain. Glaucus' desire to become a sea god led him to eat the magical herb, but he soon realized that he had lost his mortal life forever. The story also highlights the power of love, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

Overall, Metamorphoses: Book The Fourteenth by Ovid is a masterpiece that explores the theme of transformation in a unique and captivating way. The stories of Scylla and Glaucus are cautionary tales that warn against the dangers of jealousy, revenge, and the pursuit of power. The poem also highlights the power of love, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Ovid's writing is beautiful and poetic, and his stories are timeless. This classic poem is a must-read for anyone who loves literature and wants to explore the power of transformation.

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