Aglauros

Woman into Statue

 

Mercury plans to wed Herse, but her sister Aglauros is overcome by envy. She blocks the god’s path, saying she won’t budge an inch until he leaves.

 

Swift Hermes said —

“Keep firmly that resolve.” And with his wand

The sculptur'd portals touching, wide they flew.

But when her limbs to raise, the virgin strove,

A weighty numbness o'er the members crept

Which bend in sitting, and their movement staid.

Strenuous she strives to raise her form erect,

But stiffen'd feels her knees; chill coldness spreads

Through all her toes; and, fled the purple stream,

Her veins turn pallid: cruel cancer thus,

Disease incurable, spreads far and wide,

Sound members adding to the parts diseas'd.

So gradual, o'er her breast the chilling frost

Crept deadly, and the gates of life shut close.

Complaint she try'd not; had she try'd, her voice

Had found no passage, for the stone had seiz'd

Her throat,—her mouth; to marble all was chang'd.

She sat a pallid statue;—all the stone

Her envy tainted with a livid hue.